In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic grabbed headlines and touched many people’s daily lives. Scientists around the globe collaborated to create groundbreaking vaccines, tests, and treatments.
Beyond the arena of COVID-19, researchers forged ahead, chipping away at some of the biggest health issues of our time. They brought about innovations that transcended the prior limits of diagnostic tests, preventative measures, and treatments for an array of maladies.
As we look ahead in 2022, we shall take a moment to acknowledge some of these breakthroughs.
Disease Prevention
1. A New Era of mRNA Technology
RNA therapeutics entered the spotlight in 2021 thanks to vaccine makers like Pfizer and Moderna. In the face of the pandemic, scientists formulated the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in less than a year, far outpacing vaccine development for all prior diseases.
Researchers from Yale University estimated thevaccines kept more than a million people out of the hospital and cut the U.S. death rate in halfin the first half of 2021 alone.
The potential for RNA technology extends far beyond COVID-19 vaccines. RNA therapeutics can be used to target certain proteins, reprogram genetic information, control how genes are expressed, and more.mRNA is easy to edit, meaning scientists can tailor one mRNA vaccine to protect against differentCOVID-19variants or something completely different.
Pfizer is working on an mRNA seasonal flu shot, while a team at Yale created anRNA vaccine for malaria. Researchers are already testing the mRNA technology on preventing heart diseases, neurological diseases, rabies, Zika, HIV, and certain cancers.
5 Experts Explain mRNA Vaccines for Non-Science People
Verywell Health / Brianna Gilmartin
2. The World’s First Malaria Vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the firstmalaria vaccinein October, a landmark victory for global public health. The vaccine, called RTS,S or Mosquirix, is also the first vaccine to target any parasitic disease.
Mosquirix is 36% effective in young children, but that could be enough to save tens of thousands of young lives every year. The mosquito-borne disease is a leading cause of death and illness among young children, especially in resource-poor tropical and subtropical regions.
“This is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health, and malaria control,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in astatement.
3. A Blood Test to Detect More Than 50 Cancers
While some cancers can be caught with early screening, others have been difficult to detect until later stages, when treatment options are limited. New developments in multi-cancer early detection tests make it possible to catch cancer early on.
The “liquid biopsy” indicates if a sample carries the signal for cancerous cells and pinpoints which organ they originate from. In a clinical trial of 6,000 people over 50 years old, researchers diagnosed 29 people who didn’t know they had cancer. In more than 96% of those samples, Galleri accurately located the source of the cancer on the first or second try.
The Galleri Test hasn’t yet received FDA approval, though it’s available in 50 states for $949 with a doctor’s prescription.
Treatment Innovations
4. Medical Psychedelics Hold Promise for Psychiatric Treatment
In 2021, several major studies were published on the potentialmental and physical health benefits of psychedelicagents including MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin. Psychedelics may help to alleviate maladies from substance use disorders to anorexia to major depressive disorder.
Last year, institutions like New York University and University of California Berkeley opened centers dedicated to studying psychedelics. The National Institutes of Health awarded the first federal grant in 50 years to study psychedelic treatments, indicating greater acceptance of the substances into mainstream medical research.
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
5. Targeted Radiation Therapy Improves Survival Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Patients
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among U.S. men—more than 12% of men will bediagnosedat some point in their life.Metastatic castration-resistantprostate cancer is a form of the cancer that progresses despitetreatmentand low levels of testosterone, making it particularly difficult to eliminate.
A new treatment named lutetium-177-PSMA-617 uses a novel approach shown to improve survival outcomes for people with this form of the cancer. A special compound targets a protein found almost exclusively in prostate cancer cells. The treatment can target cells carrying that protein, driving radiation there and sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
In a study of more than 800 men in 10 countries, the treatment more than doubled how long patients lived without their cancer worsening.The treatment received FDA priority review status and the agency is expected to a decision in 2022.
6. Novel Device for a Common Cause of Maternal Death
Postpartum hemorrhaging, excessive bleeding after childbirth, causes more than one-third of childbirth-related maternal deaths worldwide. To stop the bleeding, doctors commonly insert a balloon into the uterus to apply pressure to the wound. The treatment must remain in place for a day, which can be uncomfortable and inconvenient for mothers.
In a trial of more than 100 patients, the Jada system controlled postpartum hemorrhages in 94% of patients in a median of three minutes, and nearly all participating physicians said the device was easy to use.
Lowering Medical Costs
Feodora Chiosea / Getty Images
7. Biosimilar Insulin Offers Affordable Alternative
The FDA approvedthe first interchangeable biosimilar insulinin August 2021. Semglee, the generic drug is a near copy of the popular long-lasting insulin, Lantus. For the more than 34 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S., Semglee offers a more cost-effective glycemic control option, increasing access for those who depend on insulin.
8. Say No to Surprise Out-of-Network Medical Bills
Millions of people in the U.S. have received unexpected and often staggering bills after receiving medical care. A new law shields patients from being charged out-of-network prices for services received from in-network health systems. The law, known as theNo Surprises Act, went into full effect on January 1.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Miao Z, Qian A, Feng R.RNA Therapeutics – Research and Clinical Advancements. Front. Mol. Biosci., 22 September 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.710738.Sartor O, de Bono J, Chi KN, et al.Lutetium-177-PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.NEJM.June 23, 2021. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107322.D’Alton M, Rood K, Simhan H, Goffman D.Profile of the Jada® System: the vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device for treating abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage.Expert Review of Medical Devices. 2021;18(9):849-853. doi:10.1080/17434440.2021.1962288
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Miao Z, Qian A, Feng R.RNA Therapeutics – Research and Clinical Advancements. Front. Mol. Biosci., 22 September 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.710738.Sartor O, de Bono J, Chi KN, et al.Lutetium-177-PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.NEJM.June 23, 2021. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107322.D’Alton M, Rood K, Simhan H, Goffman D.Profile of the Jada® System: the vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device for treating abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage.Expert Review of Medical Devices. 2021;18(9):849-853. doi:10.1080/17434440.2021.1962288
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Miao Z, Qian A, Feng R.RNA Therapeutics – Research and Clinical Advancements. Front. Mol. Biosci., 22 September 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.710738.Sartor O, de Bono J, Chi KN, et al.Lutetium-177-PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.NEJM.June 23, 2021. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107322.D’Alton M, Rood K, Simhan H, Goffman D.Profile of the Jada® System: the vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device for treating abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage.Expert Review of Medical Devices. 2021;18(9):849-853. doi:10.1080/17434440.2021.1962288
Miao Z, Qian A, Feng R.RNA Therapeutics – Research and Clinical Advancements. Front. Mol. Biosci., 22 September 2021. DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.710738.
Sartor O, de Bono J, Chi KN, et al.Lutetium-177-PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.NEJM.June 23, 2021. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107322.
D’Alton M, Rood K, Simhan H, Goffman D.Profile of the Jada® System: the vacuum-induced hemorrhage control device for treating abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage.Expert Review of Medical Devices. 2021;18(9):849-853. doi:10.1080/17434440.2021.1962288
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
