Moderna's vaccine shows robust response against 4 influenza strains

Laboratory: ©Imaging L - stock.adobe.com

(Editor's note: This article originally appeared on our sister publication's website, Infection Control Today.

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. 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.

Reference
Moderna expans the field of mRNA mkedicine with positive clinical results across cancer, rare disease, and infectious disease. News release; Moderna. September 13, 2023. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2023/Moderna-Expands-the-Field-of-mRNA-Medicine-with-Positive-Clinical-Results-Across-Cancer-Rare-Disease-and-Infectious-Disease/default.aspx#:~:text=Expanding%20the%20Field%20of%20mRNA%20Medicine&text=The%20Company%20has%20advanced%20a,1345%2C%20mRNA%2D1010).