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Our visiting professor tells the astonishing story of the vaccine that can save the world from the pandemic

Photo of Mikael Dolsten. Photo: Agata Garpenlind
Mikael Dolsten, the celebrated head of research at Pfizer and visiting professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, tells the story of how his company developed a COVID-19 vaccine in just nine months. Photo: Agata Garpenlind.

It’s Friday night in Lund and soon Mikael Dolsten, acclaimed head of research and visiting professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, is about to tell the incredible but true story of how, in just nine months, his company developed one of the vaccines that could save us from the pandemic. It would have taken nine years if the circumstances hadn’t been so dire. Important research issues were discussed, perspectives were broadened and hopes were raised that a time will come when humans will dominate the virus instead of vice versa.
“The most exciting lecture of the year” is how virus researcher Alex Evilevitch summed up the seminar.

It’s Friday night in Lund and soon Mikael Dolsten, acclaimed head of research and visiting professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, is about to tell the incredible but true story of how, in just nine months, his company developed one of the vaccines that could save us from the pandemic. It would have taken nine years if the circumstances hadn’t been so dire. Important research issues were discussed, perspectives were broadened and hopes were raised that a time will come when humans will dominate the virus instead of vice versa.
“The most exciting lecture of the year” is how virus researcher Alex Evilevitch summed up the seminar.

An excited atmosphere prevailed among antique carpets and stuccos, scripts were printed and pocket handkerchiefs fluffed. Meanwhile, the technical team set up rigs, connected cables and performed checks while low-lying winter sunbeams shone through the uneven window glass in the Gamla Biskopshuset building.

Erik Renström, the University’s newly appointed vice-chancellor, is delighted. He’s about to give the welcoming address at the evening seminar, “Pfizer Rapid Response: Rising to Meet the Crisis”. Until the end of last year he was still dean of the Faculty of Medicine. It was during that time that he succeeded in getting Pfizer’s celebrated research head to come to Lund as visiting professor of Pharmacology.


The seminar will be led by Tomas Deierborg, moderator for the evening and the new head of the Department of Experimental Medical Science, which is the new visiting professor’s department. He has just had a rewarding pre-seminar talk with the star of the evening, and he is also delighted. The hypotheses that form the basis for his own lab’s work concur with the input from the Pfizer head.

Tomas Deierborg and Erik Renström. Photo: Agata Garpenlind
Left to right: Tomas Deierborg and Erik Renström prepare for the webinar with Mikael Dolsten. In the background is Ella Stensson, who took care of all the practicalities for the event. Photo: Agata Garpenlind.

Wanted to quit

Four researchers, connected via Zoom, also from the Department of Experimental Medical Science, have prepared well-formulated questions for the visiting professor.

There are 697 listeners registered for the open digital seminar. In addition to Sweden, there are listeners from the United States, Poland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Australia, Ireland, Croatia and New Zealand.

And not least, there’s Mikael Dolsten. Visiting professor and head of research at the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, who led the scientific work to develop the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Dolsten, a Lund University alumnus who nearly quit his medical studies on his first day, who graduated here, and whose three children were born here. From his study at home in New York, he is about to recount the amazing story of how a successful vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 was developed in a record-breaking nine months amid a raging pandemic. Dolsten says it would have taken nine years under normal circumstances.

Clinical trials began in late April last year. The Zoom meeting where the results of the Phase III study were revealed was a monumental moment.
“All the preliminary data had looked good, but I’ve been in the pharmaceutical industry long enough to know that anything can happen.”

Nothing has been as big as this

The independent steering committee delivered the announcement: “You have a vaccine effect of more than 90 percent.”
“I jumped up out of my chair and cried out with joy! Nothing in my career has been as big as this,” says Dolsten, who has developed 30 medical products.

An enormous success, but there is always a risk of the virus mutating and the vaccine losing efficacy.
“This is where mRNA vaccines are unique. In 90 days you can produce a vaccine that works optimally again. The technology is incredibly fast.”

So how come Pfizer was so quick off the mark when the pandemic struck? Over the past decade, Pfizer has undertaken major changes to improve its performance in R&D, research collaborations and innovative drugs. Dolsten was recruited to inject more creativity into the company’s research.

He believes we will win this first round against the coronavirus, but warns that a new pandemic could strike in a few years’ time, when mutated relatives of today’s virus could pose a fresh challenge.
“The difficulty now lies in the logistics. We need to vaccinate a global population of nearly 8 billion people.”

“Impressive knowledge,” commented the head of department after the lecture.
“Fantastic,” exclaimed the vice-chancellor.
“The lecture of the year,” concluded virus researcher Evilevitch.

Then it was time for questions.

Erik Renström and Tomas Deierborg. Photo: Agata Garpenlind
After the lecture, four researchers, connected via Zoom, had the opportunity to ask Mikael Dolsten questions. Photo: Agata Garpenlind.

PhD student Oscar Manouchehrian raised the question of the industry’s willingness, or unwillingness, to publish results which other researchers can build on. Dolsten agreed:
“Cooperation is important in research. There should be some sort of open source knowledge bank to promote research.

PhD student Zackarias Söderlund asked how the gap can be bridged between academia and industry, and whether it is possible, as a researcher, to cross the boundary at any time.
“It’s possible, but that step is largely to do with what interests the researcher at the time. It’s a question of interaction.”

The next research revolution

Assistant professor Sonja Aits asked about her specialist subject, artificial intelligence (AI). Dolsten agrees with her outlook:
“AI is the next revolutionary tool for medical research.

Research group leader and senior lecturer Alex Evilevitch, himself a virus researcher, discussed the risk of future mutations. Dolsten admitted:
“Thinking about that keeps me awake at night.”

Professor and department head Tomas Deierborg asked if there are any antiviral drugs in the pipeline that interfere with SARS-CoV-2 replication mechanisms.
“Yes, there are, but unfortunately none that is powerful enough at present.” After this, Dolsten was presented with flowers. He was also presented with a special ring made of surgical stainless steel. This gift represents the closing of a circle to mark Dolsten’s returned home, albeit only virtually so far. By presenting this ring, the department head has started a new tradition at the Department of Experimental Medical Science.

“When I got the offer to become visiting professor in Lund, a door opened in my heart. This is where the foundations of my career were laid, and it feels wonderful to be able to give back to Lund. I hope to inspire new researchers to aim for the stars. And to reach new galaxies.”

mRNA vaccine technology

The mRNA carries instructions that contain the virus’s genetic code. When it is injected, the body’s own cells are able to create a protein that is unique to the virus. As a result, the immune system is triggered to produce a defence reaction. mRNA vaccines can be manufactured faster than traditional vaccines.