Huge DNA contamination episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 2, 2026 · 21 MIN

Huge DNA contamination

from Dr. John Campbell · host Campbellteaching

Quantification of residual plasmid DNA and SV40 promoter-enhancer sequences in Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna modRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Ontario, Canada https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40913499/ 32 vials representing 16 unique vaccine lots. These data demonstrate the presence of billions to hundreds of billions of DNA molecules per dose in the modRNA COVID-19 products tested. All products tested exceeded the guidelines for residual DNA set by the FDA and WHO of 10ng/dose by 36–627-fold. Total DNA in all vials tested Exceeded the regulatory limit for residual DNA set by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Authorization (WHO) by: Pfizer: 36-153-fold Moderna: 112-627-fold 3 Pfizer vials exceeded the regulatory limit for the SV40 promoter-enhancer-ori (p53) The PCR results for the most recent XBB.1.5 Moderna and Pfizer vaccines suggest that DNA residues have not been reduced from previous vaccine versions. Pfizer, Total DNA ranged 371-1,548 ng/dose Moderna, 1,130-6,280 ng/dose Specific DNA of multiple plasmid DNA targets Pfizer ranged 0.22-7.28 ng/dose Moderna 0.01-0.78 ng/dose for Moderna. The SV40 promoter-enhancer-ori(0.25-23.72 ng/dose) was only detected in Pfizer vials. Sequencing of one vial Mean DNA length, 214 bp Maximum length, 3.5 kb Presence of 1.23 × 108 to 1.60 × 1011 plasmid DNA fragments per dose encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. Our findings extend existing concerns about vaccine safety and call into question the relevance of guidelines conceived before the introduction of efficient transfection using LNPs. This work highlights the need for regulators and industry to adhere to the precautionary principle and provide sufficient and transparent evidence that products are safe and effective, and disclose the details of their composition and method of manufacture. For some of the COVID-19 vaccines, the drug substances released to market were manufactured differently than those used in clinical trials. Rationale for study Manufacturing nucleoside-modified mRNA for commercial COVID-19 vaccines relies on RNA polymerase transcription of a plasmid DNA template. Previous studies identified high levels of plasmid DNA in vials of mRNA vaccines, suggesting that the removal of residual DNA template is problematic. Therefore, we quantified the DNA load in a limited number of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 modRNA vaccine vials using two independent methods. This study emphasizes the importance of methodological considerations when quantifying residual plasmid DNA in modRNA products, considering increased LNP transfection efficiency, and cumulative dosing presents significant and unquantified risks to human health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quantification of residual plasmid DNA and SV40 promoter-enhancer sequences in Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna modRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Ontario, Canada https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40913499/ 32 vials representing 16 unique vaccine lots. These data demonstrate the presence of billions to hundreds of billions of DNA molecules per dose in the modRNA COVID-19 products tested. All products tested exceeded the guidelines for residual DNA set by the FDA and WHO of 10ng/dose by 36–627-fold. Total DNA in all vials tested Exceeded the regulatory limit for residual DNA set by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Authorization (WHO) by: Pfizer: 36-153-fold Moderna: 112-627-fold 3 Pfizer vials exceeded the regulatory limit for the SV40 promoter-enhancer-ori (p53) The PCR results for the most recent XBB.1.5 Moderna and Pfizer vaccines suggest that DNA residues have not been reduced from previous vaccine versions. Pfizer, Total DNA ranged 371-1,548 ng/dose Moderna, 1,130-6,280 ng/dose Specific DNA of multiple plasmid DNA targets Pfizer ranged 0.22-7.28 ng/dose Moderna 0.01-0.78 ng/dose for Moderna. The SV40 promoter-enhancer-ori(0.25-23.72 ng/dose) was only detected in Pfizer vials. Sequencing of one vial Mean DNA length, 214 bp Maximum length, 3.5 kb Presence of 1.23 × 108 to 1.60 × 1011 plasmid DNA fragments per dose encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. Our findings extend existing concerns about vaccine safety and call into question the relevance of guidelines conceived before the introduction of efficient transfection using LNPs. This work highlights the need for regulators and industry to adhere to the precautionary principle and provide sufficient and transparent evidence that products are safe and effective, and disclose the details of their composition and method of manufacture. For some of the COVID-19 vaccines, the drug substances released to market were manufactured differently than those used in clinical trials. Rationale for study Manufacturing nucleoside-modified mRNA for commercial COVID-19 vaccines relies on RNA polymerase transcription of a plasmid DNA template. Previous studies identified high levels of plasmid DNA in vials of mRNA vaccines, suggesting that the removal of residual DNA template is problematic. Therefore, we quantified the DNA load in a limited number of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 modRNA vaccine vials using two independent methods. This study emphasizes the importance of methodological considerations when quantifying residual plasmid DNA in modRNA products, considering increased LNP transfection efficiency, and cumulative dosing presents significant and unquantified risks to human health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

Huge DNA contamination

0:00 21:04

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. XXX Tech by SOVRYN Dr. Brian Sovryn The crossroads between technology, sensuality, and metaphysics - and the longest running anarchist podcast in the world! Brought to you by Dr. Brian Sovryn. Al-Quran In English Dr. Soha The complete Quran translation in English, Narrated by Dr. Soha. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. NEWMORROW SESSIONS - A PodCast Series on the Future of Hospitality Mario C. Bauer, Florian Schneider, Axel Weber & Dr. Tillman Bardt The Newmorrow PodCast is more than a podcast — it's a platform for open dialog on the future of our business, a platform for those building what doesn’t exist yet. Here, we share and embrace our passion for the hospitality industry, but we won’t romanticize the journey. We ask the tough questions, confront uncomfortable truths, and prepare for a future that resists easy answers. We believe that the tougher and wilder times become, the more openly, honestly and humanely people need to talk to each other and act together. We believe, openness, togetherness, and truthfulness should also be cornerstones of a professional community to develop our utopian idea of „open source“. This is a space where visionaries don’t just imagine the future — they wrestle with the paradoxes that shape it: success vs. happiness, data vs. instinct, stability vs. reinvention. Join leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers as they share not what made them — but what’s actively shaping them, now and next. So tune in

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Dr. John Campbell?

This episode is 21 minutes long.

When was this Dr. John Campbell episode published?

This episode was published on July 2, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Quantification of residual plasmid DNA and SV40 promoter-enhancer sequences in Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna modRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Ontario, Canada https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40913499/ 32 vials representing 16 unique vaccine lots....

Can I download this Dr. John Campbell episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!