• starlinguk@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Eh, ymmv. Did you know they defunded BioNTech? The developers of what is now the Pfizer Covid vaccine? Covid vaccine research is desperately needed (see vaccine injury) but there is no funding.

    Many EU countries are defunding science. Being a researcher is an absolute nightmare. Brussels is receiving tons more applications for funding because researchers aren’t getting money from their own government anymore. University departments are being shut down.

    People who have been doing scientific and medical research for decades are finding themselves on the streets.

    • stumu415@lemmy.zipOP
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      4 days ago

      BioNTech is definitely not defunded in China. Besides BioNTech, there are more local pharmas working on mRNA. BioNTech have a license / working agreement with BMS worth 2 billion dollars mainly for a mRNA cancer vaccine. Mostly handled in China - again. Because in the US as a scientist you’ll be defunded if you use the word mRNA in your documentation.

      It is generally fucking nuts to block what could be one of the major cancer treatments of the near future.

    • LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works
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      4 days ago

      The last thing I heard about Biontech is that the couple founding the company got crazy rich, figured out they don’t like being CEOs of a large company, and founded another small research lab with their money.

      Besides, it is a private company, sure, they got government grants and funding especially during Corona, but I don’t think we should give random companies fucktons of tax money in normal circumstances. At least not while we’re doing the whole market economy capitalism thing.

      That does not mean that science funding isn’t getting cut, I am still a bit salty that it removed my chances of getting a phd. Fighter jets and tanks aren’t free, and neither is pissing billions into the wind because you refuse to persecute fraudsters.