Moderna Reveals Encouraging Phase 3 Results for Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Moderna has recently released positive Phase 3 trial results for their mRNA-1010 seasonal influenza vaccine candidate that demonstrates its superior relative vaccine efficacy compared to a licensed standard-dose seasonal influenza vaccine in adults aged 50 years and above. This milestone achievement in the fight against influenza is crucial, especially in light of the severe flu season last year, which saw the highest number of flu-related hospitalizations and outpatient visits in 15 years.

The Phase 3 trial, known as P304, evaluated the relative vaccine efficacy (rVE) of mRNA-1010 against influenza illness and yielded promising results. The vaccine showcased a remarkable rVE of 26.6% in the overall study population, meeting the stringent superiority criterion outlined in the trial protocol. Additionally, the vaccine demonstrated strong efficacy against various influenza strains included in its formulation, such as A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B/Victoria lineages, with rVE percentages ranging from 22.2% to 29.1%. Subgroup analyses confirmed consistent high rVE estimates across different age groups, risk factors, and previous influenza vaccination status.

Moderna’s CEO Stéphane Bancel highlighted the significance of these Phase 3 trial results as a pivotal step in combating the burden of influenza in older adults. He noted that the recent flu season emphasized the pressing need for more effective vaccines to address the substantial impact of flu-related hospitalizations and associated costs on individuals and healthcare systems. The mRNA-1010 vaccine’s success in achieving superior seroconversion rates and geometric mean titer ratios against all target strains further underscores its potential as a game-changer in influenza prevention.

In a time where the world is grappling with public health challenges like COVID-19 and seasonal flu, the development of an mRNA-based flu vaccine like mRNA-1010 holds great promise. Not only does it offer the advantage of better matching circulating flu strains, but it also lays the groundwork for swift responses to future influenza pandemics and the possibility of combination vaccines to tackle multiple infectious diseases simultaneously.

The CDC’s data on the unprecedented number of flu-related hospitalizations and outpatient visits during the last flu season underscores the urgent need for more effective vaccines to combat seasonal influenza. Moderna’s mRNA-1010 vaccine’s exceptional Phase 3 trial results herald a new era in flu prevention, offering hope for a future where the burden of influenza can be significantly reduced through innovative and efficacious vaccine solutions.