Influenza: Mixed interim results for Moderna's messenger RNA vaccine
Moderna is working on combination vaccines against influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus. (File photo)
U.S. company Moderna on Thursday announced mixed interim results for its flu vaccine using messenger RNA technology, the same as for its vaccine against COVID-19.
These clinical trial results (phase 3) do not yet reveal the effectiveness of the vaccine, but provide some data on the immune response triggered by an injection.
For the most prevalent influenza A subtypes known as H1N1 and H3N2, the immune response elicited by Moderna's vaccine has been shown to be superior to other vaccines already allowed, but not against the Yamagata and Victoria strains of influenza B.
In post-close Wall Street electronic trading, Moderna stock was down nearly 6% .
The trials were conducted on over 6,000 adults in Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Panama and the Philippines.
Participants received either a dose of Moderna's vaccine (mRNA-1010) or a previously licensed vaccine.
Although we did not achieve non-inferiority for influenza B strains, which are more common in young people, we have already updated the vaccine , said Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna, in a press release.
We believe this could improve the immune response against influenza B, and will seek to quickly confirm these improvements in an upcoming clinical trial, using the agility of our mRNA platform.
The vaccine was generally well tolerated, according to the company.
Current flu vaccines use inactivated viruses that have lost their ability to cause infection, while causing an immune system response.
But the strain used must be selected months in advance, and their effectiveness is between 40 and 60%.
Messenger RNA technology works differently and must in particular allow to develop and adapt the vaccine more quickly.
The World Health Organization estimates that influenza is responsible for approximately 3 to 5 million cases of serious illness each year, and 290,000 to 650 000 deaths. It particularly affects the elderly.
Moderna has only one product on the market so far: its COVID-19 vaccine.
The company is also working on combination vaccines, both against influenza and COVID-19, but also RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
The American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have also launched trials for a combined messenger RNA vaccine against influenza and COVID-19.
