Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine Shows Positive Results in Phase 3 Trial
The mRNA-1010 vaccine generated a powerful response against 4 influenza virus strains compared to traditional flu shots.
It’s a great day for mRNA technology, particularly in the field of infectious diseases. Today, Moderna announced it had met its primary endpoints in a phase 3 trial for the company’s influenza vaccine, mRNA-1010.1 The vaccine had generated a powerful response against all 4 influenza virus strains compared to traditional influenza shots in late-stage trials.
Moderna has recently shows positive clinical results with a number of vaccines in its pipeline, including the completion of a biologics license application for RSV (mRNA-1345); completion of enrollment in its adult phase 3 trial of mRNA-1647, a vaccine for cytomegalovirus (CMV); and a phase 3 trial of mRNA-1283, the next COVID-19 vaccine.
The company is taking advantage of its vast research and development in mRNA technology to add to its robust pipeline that includes clinical benefits for cancer, 3 different rare diseases, and a number of infectious disease vaccines. Six of the company’s programs are in late-stage development, and Moderna plans on doubling its number of programs in phase 3 by 2025, launching up to 15 products in 5 years across cancer, rare disease, and infectious diseases.
On September 11, 2023, the FDA approved a supplemental biologics license application for the COVID-19 vaccine Moderna, now called Spikevax, for persons aged 12 years and older, with emergency use authorization in infants and children aged 6 months to 11 years.
For seasonal influenza, mRNA-1010 vaccine has demonstrated safety and tolerability profiles across all clinical trials, including 3 phase 3 trials, and independent data and safety monitoring boards have raised no concerns.
Moderna continues to work on a number of other influenza vaccine candidates that include additional hemagglutinin (HA) antigens for broader coverage of influenza A strains, as well as a candidate that incorporates HA and neuraminidase antigens to target proteins found in the influenza virus lifecycle, to decrease the potential of viral antigenic escape (mRNA-1020 and mRNA-1030).
Additionally, the company is working on a number of combination vaccines for influenza/COVID-19, and influenza/RSV.
Other viruses that Moderna is working on to develop vaccines for include the Epstein Barr virus; the herpes simplex virus; varicella zoster virus; the norovirus; and HIV.
This article originally appeared on Infection Control Today.
