Positive Results in Early to Mid-Stage Study

Moderna announced on Wednesday that its combination vaccine targeting Covid and the flu will undergo a final stage trial in adults aged 50 and above this year. The vaccine has shown positive results in an early to mid-stage study.

Approval Expected in 2025

The biotech company aims to obtain regulatory approval for its shot, mRNA-1083, by 2025.

Combination Vaccines to Simplify Protection Against Respiratory Viruses

Moderna, along with other vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, believes that combination vaccines will simplify the process of protecting individuals against respiratory viruses, which typically surge around the same time each year.

Improving Consumer Experience and Public Health Compliance

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel stated that combination vaccines offer an opportunity to enhance consumer and provider experience, increase compliance with public health recommendations, and provide value for healthcare systems.

Immune Response Comparable to Existing Flu Vaccines

The mRNA-1083 shot generated an immune response similar to or greater than two currently available flu vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline during the early to mid-stage clinical trial. It also produced an immune response similar to Moderna’s bivalent Covid vaccine.

Positive Safety Profile

Moderna reported that the safety data of mRNA-1083 was similar to that of their stand-alone Covid shot. No new safety concerns were identified with the combination vaccine.

Future Development

Moderna is also developing a combination shot targeting the flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), as well as another vaccine targeting all three respiratory viruses: Covid, flu, and RSV.

Similar Efforts by Pfizer and BioNTech

Pfizer and BioNTech are also working on a vaccine that targets both Covid and the flu. They initiated a phase one trial for the shot in November and anticipate launching it in 2024 or later.