Moderna has released positive phase three data on a combination vaccine that targets both Covid-19 and the flu, showing it to be more effective than existing standalone shots for these viruses. The company plans to file for regulatory approval for its combination jab in the U.S. this summer and hopes to enter the market by 2025. This development gives Moderna a potential lead over rival vaccine makers Pfizer and Novavax, who are also working on combination shots to simplify protection against respiratory viruses that typically surge around the same time of year. The added convenience of combination shots could help increase vaccination rates, which have been declining in the U.S.
Moderna’s combination shot, mRNA-1083, is made up of the company’s vaccine candidates for seasonal influenza and a newer version of its Covid shot. Both of these experimental vaccines have shown positive results in separate phase three trials. In an ongoing late-stage trial on 8,000 patients, the combination shot produced statistically significantly higher immune responses against both influenza strains and the omicron variant of Covid in patients over the age of 50. The safety and tolerability of the combination shot were found to be acceptable, with most side effects being mild to moderate in severity, such as injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, and headache.
In addition to the Covid and flu combination shot, Moderna is also developing a combination vaccine targeting the flu and RSV, as well as a vaccine targeting all three respiratory viruses: Covid, flu, and RSV. Pfizer and BioNTech are also studying a vaccine targeting both Covid and the flu, while Novavax is developing a protein-based combination shot for these viruses. The development of these combination vaccines could help reduce the burden of respiratory viruses on pharmacists and the U.S. healthcare system, which has been facing a labor shortage and stretched resources due to the ongoing pandemic.
By simplifying the process of vaccination against multiple respiratory viruses, combination shots could help increase vaccination rates and protect more people against outbreaks of these viruses. Moderna’s positive phase three data on their Covid and flu combination shot provides hope for a more effective and convenient solution for respiratory virus protection. With plans to file for regulatory approval this summer, Moderna aims to bring their combination vaccine to the market by 2025, potentially giving them a lead over competitors in the race to develop these crucial combination shots.
