Moderna (MRNA), which focuses on mRNA-based medicines and vaccines, is now looking into how quantum computing can improve the way it designs treatments. Indeed, the company has partnered with tech giant IBM (IBM) to figure out what the best mRNA sequences are in order to tell the body how to make helpful proteins. Since each protein can be created from a huge number of possible mRNA sequences, scientists need powerful computing to find the most effective and stable options. Although classical computers have helped Moderna make major breakthroughs, they are sometimes not powerful enough when problems become too complex.
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As a result, Moderna and IBM are using quantum computing to predict how mRNA folds into different shapes inside the body. This folding, known as “secondary structure,” affects how well the mRNA works and how long it lasts. To make this process more accurate and efficient, the team uses a financial risk method called Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) to improve quantum algorithms known as variational quantum algorithms. These algorithms focus on the most promising results by targeting the most stable, low-energy folding patterns.
Because CVaR adds very little computing overhead, more resources can go into solving real research problems instead of handling errors or noise. In addition, in 2024, Moderna and IBM reached a milestone by running the largest-ever quantum simulation of mRNA secondary structures by using up to 80 qubits. This work demonstrates that quantum computing can match the performance of current classical methods and even surpass them in some cases. Therefore, quantum computing could help scientists explore a wider range of mRNA designs more quickly, which will give them more options to test in the lab.
Which Stock Is the Better Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, out of the two stocks mentioned above, analysts think that MRNA stock has more room to run than IBM. In fact, MRNA’s price target of $48.07 per share implies almost 48% upside versus IBM’s 0.3%.
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