This unproven technology, named messenger RNA delivers genetic instructions into the heart of human cells, it is the base process behind the current Moderna and Pfizer coronavirus vaccines. In mid-January Modern got approval to develop a vaccine for Nipah virus that has occurred in India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore. Moderna described the virus as, "a zoonotic virus transmitted to humans from animals, contaminated food, or through direct human-to-human transmission and causes a range of illnesses including fatal encephalitis." Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel in a statement made in January said: "The uniquely challenging year of 2020 for all of society proved to be an extraordinary proof-of-concept period for Moderna.