Moderna’s combined COVID-19 and flu vaccine shows promising results in preliminary trial

FRIDAY, Oct. 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Moderna Inc. announced Wednesday that it has received positive preliminary results for its new vaccine that protects against four types of influenza and COVID-19.

In interim results from a Phase 1/2 trial, the vaccine showed strong immune responses in adults aged 50 to 64 years and improved performance in those aged 50 to 64 years compared with a standard dose of influenza vaccine of influenza vaccine. 65 to 79 years old. It also showed a strong response compared to Moderna’s COVID vaccine. The new vaccine also appears to be safe, with side effects similar to those seen in people taking Moderna’s COVID vaccine. “Today we achieved positive results for our vaccine against influenza and COVID-19, a combination vaccine, and we continue to expand our product in Phase 3 development,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a company press release. Influenza and COVID-19 impose significant seasonal burdens on individuals, providers, health systems, and the economy. Combined vaccines provide important support. “This is an opportunity to improve the consumer and provider experience, increase compliance with public health recommendations and create value for the health system,” Bancel added. Moderna noted that influenza places a heavy burden on health systems each year, causing 3 million to 5 million people to become seriously ill and causing 290,000 to 650,000 deaths. The elderly are particularly affected. Meanwhile, since the pandemic began in 2020 , COVID-19 is the leading cause of severe illness and death worldwide. Globally, approximately 770 million cases of the disease have been recorded. COVID-19 has killed 7 million people. Severe illness and death in older adults and people with pre-existing conditions It’s also more common in the U.S.. About 150 million doses of flu vaccine are injected each year in the U.S., and 50 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are expected this fall. Moderna said it will reach 100 million doses this year. Moderna hopes to gain federal regulation in 2025 agency approval of a combination vaccine, so until then people will need to receive separate vaccines. Pfizer and Novavax have been working on similar combination vaccines, according to CNN. “We are excited to move the combined respiratory vaccine into Phase 3 development,” Bancel said , and look forward to working with public health officials to address the significant seasonal threat these viruses pose to humans. “Flu Vaccine. Source: Moderna, press release, October 4, 2023; CNN.