Venture financing for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based innovator vaccines has plummeted by 82%, dropping from $510 million in 2023 to just $90 million year-to-date in 2025, according to data from GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center Deals Database. This significant decline highlights a stark shift in investor sentiment toward mRNA technologies, which gained substantial traction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reduction in funding may reflect a broader reassessment of the mRNA platform’s commercial viability as the initial excitement wanes and the market stabilizes post-pandemic. Investors are likely weighing the long-term potential of mRNA vaccines against emerging technologies and the competitive landscape, which includes traditional vaccine platforms and novel therapeutic approaches.
This downturn in venture capital could have profound implications for the development of mRNA-based vaccines, potentially slowing innovation and limiting the pipeline of new products. As companies navigate these challenges, the focus may shift towards strategic partnerships and collaborations to sustain research and development efforts in this critical area of healthcare.
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