New York, December 11, 2011 : .Early data shows that gene-based vaccines are not the best way to solve all problems in vaccine development.
This is based on clinical trials with Moderna’s mRNA based seasonal flu vaccine.
With the success of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, the company in July launched a clinical trial of an mRNA seasonal flu vaccine.
The results released by the drugmaker on Friday showed that the mRNA flu shots did generate antibodies, but the levels of those antibodies weren’t higher than those for other flu shots already on the market.They also had more side effects than existing shots, The Verge reported.
Moderna’s initial data suggests that the immune system can be complex and that mRNA vaccinations are not an effective way to stop a persistent virus like flu.Scientist Derek Lowe, a chemist and author wrote that more research will be required to determine if there’s a benefit to using the mRNA vaccines against the flu.
The overwhelming success of the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, supercharged interest in that strategy for developing shots.
mRNA shots inject people with tiny snippets of the gene for a virus, which the body builds and then uses to learn how to fight the virus.They are faster to design and produce because manufacturers don’t have to grow copies of the virus.
Moderna’s new results do not mean that the mRNA flu shot is any less effective than we currently know.There is still much more information to be collected on these vaccines’ efficacy.Moderna plans to run larger studies that will test whether the vaccines actually prevent people getting sick (not only testing for antibody levels), according to the report.
Participants in the Moderna study who received the 50 Aug dose, including older adults, achieved robust increases in geometric mean antibody titers against H1N1 and H3N2, the strains responsible for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in this age group.
Seasonal flu (influenza A and influenza B) epidemics occur seasonally and vary in severity each year, causing respiratory illnesses and placing substantial burden on healthcare systems.
The WHO estimates approximately 3-5 million severe cases of flu occur each year globally with 290,000-650,000 flu-related deaths annually.
Stephane Bancel (Chairman of Moderna), stated that “Even before Covid-19, around three million people per year died from respiratory infections and many more are hospitalised, or fall ill due to these viruses.”
“We believe our mRNA platform is well-positioned to address the significant unmet need in seasonal flu,” Bancel added.
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