Moderna Co-Founder Warns Of 'Dystopia' As U.S. Pulls Back From Science

Moderna co-founder Noubar Afeyan warned in his annual letter to shareholders that the politicization of science is threatening the scientific method and the progress it enables. Afeyan praised science for producing 'man-made miracles' — from the lightbulb to anti-HIV drugs — but said the United States, long the engine of global research, is retreating through funding cuts and tighter visa rules for researchers.

'Corrosive doubt' has, he argued, helped fuel the return of measles in the U.S. and elsewhere as some leaders 'reject not only science but common sense.'

Afeyan framed the moment as a paradox: we live in a 'utopian age' in which genetic diseases can be treated or cured, yet a 'dystopia' is possible if preventable illnesses re-emerge because of waning public trust and shrinking support for research. He warned that eroding confidence in science undermines public health achievements and risks slowing future breakthroughs.

Why It Matters

Reduced funding and restrictive visa policies can hamper scientific discovery, diminish U.S. competitiveness, and limit collaboration with global talent. Afeyan urged renewed investment and a defense of evidence-based decision-making to preserve the progress that has delivered major medical and technological advances.

Bottom line: The letter is both an alarm and a call to action — stressing that maintaining trust, funding, and international collaboration is essential to prevent a slide from astonishing medical progress into avoidable setbacks.