New Delhi: US based vaccine developer, Moderna announced the Phase III trial data for its COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine, mRNA-1083. The data suggest that the vaccine has potential to counter infectious diseases, says GlobalData, a data-analysis company. In the study the investigational combination mRNA vaccine generated statistically higher immune responses in comparison to the licensed comparator vaccines used in the randomised, observer-blind, active control study among 8,000 adults aged 50 years and older.

Moderna in the trials reported that a single dose of mRNA-1083 met immunogenicity non-inferiority criteria versus the licensed comparator vaccines: Fluzone high-dose and Fluarix for influenza, and Spikevax for COVID-19, and has generated higher immune responses against the influenza strains including H1N1, H3N2, and B/Victoria, as well as SARS-CoV-2. The investigational combination vaccine displayed an acceptable safety and tolerability profile, with the most commonly reported adverse reactions being injection site pain, fatigue, myalgia, and headache.

The development comes less than two weeks after Moderna’s FDA approval of the first mRNA respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, mRESVIA, further demonstrating the potential of mRNA technology in combating infectious diseases.Commenting over it an expert Stephanie Kurdach, Infectious Disease Analyst, GlobalData said, “The development of a COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine could be advantageous to patients, as it would decrease the number of injections needed to provide sufficient protection against multiple respiratory illnesses.

The development of a combination vaccine is strategic for pharmaceutical companies, as successful uptake of the vaccine can translate to significant market shares under multiple indications.”“If approved, Moderna’s COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine will be an important addition to the vaccines market. The positive Phase III data provides further validation of how mRNA technology is advancing the infectious diseases pipeline,” Kurdach added. Many experts have expressed positive opinions on the development of a COVID-19/influenza combination vaccine, as well as the advancement of vaccines for infectious diseases due to mRNA technology considering that mRNA vaccines require a shorter production time, have the potential to incorporate large numbers of antigens, and may therefore be more efficacious than traditional vaccines.

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