Preparing for a Modern Plague Threat: NeoVac’s mRNA Vaccine Approach

OCTOBER 5, 2026

Plague remains a relevant global health and potential biosecurity challenge

The reported death of a laboratory worker in Russia after suspected exposure to Yersinia pestis is a striking reminder that plague is not merely a historical disease.

While plague can generally be treated effectively with antibiotics when diagnosed early, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains and the potential for deliberate misuse represent important public-health and biosecurity concerns.

At NeoVac, we have been addressing this challenge through the development of mRNA-based vaccines against Bubonic and Pneumonic Plague.

Our co-founder Prof. Dan Peer, together with his colleagues, was the first to demonstrate the use of mRNA vaccines to protect against bubonic plague (Kon E. et al., 2023). Their subsequent work also demonstrated highly effective protection against pneumonic plague (Elia U. et al. 2025).

Building on these scientific advances, NeoVac’s development programs, led by Dr. Heinrich Haas, aim to translate mRNA technology into innovative vaccines for emerging infectious diseases and biosecurity threats.

The flexibility of mRNA-LNP technology as a vaccine platform may offer opportunities to address a broad range of bacterial pathogens. In the face of increasing antimicrobial resistance and other limitations of conventional approaches, innovative vaccine technologies could become an important component of future preparedness and treatment strategies.

At NeoVac, we are committed to advancing this field and contributing to the development of next-generation medicines for challenging infectious diseases. We remain dedicated to advancing next-generation genetic medicines that strengthen global biosecurity.