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A combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna generated a superior immune reaction in a late-stage trial than standalone vaccines, the company announced Monday.
A two-in-one injection can improve vaccination rates and reduce the burden on the physical care system.
Moderna’s phase 3 clinical trial studied two teams of about 4,000 people each.
In one group, consisting of participants over the age of 65, the researchers combined the vaccine, called mRNA-1083, with the Fluzone HD flu vaccine and Spikevax, Moderna’s COVID vaccine.
In the second group, made up of people aged 50 to 64 years and older, the scientists used mRNA-1083 from the flu vaccines Fluarix and Spikevax.
The study found that the immune responses of the combined vaccine were not only not inferior to those of other vaccines, but were statistically particularly superior compared to three influenza strains (H1N1, H3N2, and B/Victoria), as well as COVID-19.
“Combination vaccines have the potential to reduce the burden of respiratory viruses in gyms and pharmacies, as well as provide people with more convenient vaccination features that can facilitate compliance and offer more potent coverage against seasonal diseases,” Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive, said in a statement.
Pfizer and Novavax are also introducing mixed flu and COVID vaccines, but Moderna is the first to report phase 3 results.
“Building on the momentum of positive Phase 3 knowledge across our respiratory portfolio, we continue to address significant unmet medical desires and advance public health,” Bancel said.
Moderna said it will provide its knowledge at an upcoming medical convention and present the effects for publication, when they are peer-reviewed. It will then interact with regulators.
The vaccine will not be available during this year’s flu season.
Moderna said the combo fireplace also appears to be safe. Most of the side effects reported were minor, with the most common being pain at the injection site, fatigue, muscle aches, and headache. The side effects were consistent with those of the other vaccines monitored in the study, the company said.
Francesca Ceddia, Moderna’s director of medical affairs, noted in a blog post that, last month, the U. S. flu vaccination rate was at a low rate. The U. S. more than doubled the COVID-19 vaccination rate (48. 4% vs. 22. 4%). than with the flu, and more than twice as much in the elderly.
“The convenience that a combination vaccine could offer patients could help fill this gap while simplifying and routineizing vaccination against either disease, which could help meet public health recommendations,” Ceddia wrote.