Clinical Trial of mRNA Universal Influenza Vaccine Candidate Begins
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/clinical-trial-mrna-universal-influenza-vaccine-candidate-begins
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05755620
Clinical trial, experimental universal influenza vaccine
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center (VRC),
(part of National Institutes of Health)
Enrolling volunteers, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Phase 1 trial
H1ssF-3928 mRNA-LNP, for safety and ability to induce an immune response.
N = up to 50 healthy volunteers, (18 through 49)
Three groups of 10 participants each
10, 25 and 50 micrograms
After evaluation of the data to determine an optimum dosage,
an additional 10 to receive the optimum dosage
Study include a group, receive a current quadrivalent.
Comparison between “immunogenicity and safety”
Follow-up appointments for up to one year
Annual seasonal flu vaccines
Valuable tools in controlling the spread and severity of influenza
Do not provide immunity against every flu strain.
Each year is based on prediction
Vaccine manufacturers then need time
(dominant strains of the virus can change)
An effective universal flu vaccine
Acting NIAID Director Hugh Auchincloss
Protecting its recipients against a wide variety of strains,
ideally providing durable long-term immunity.
“A universal influenza vaccine would be a major public health achievement and could eliminate the need for both annual development of seasonal influenza vaccines, as well as the need for patients to get a flu shot each year”
Defence against the spread of a future flu pandemic.
Both vaccines use a specific portion of a flu protein,
Hemagglutinin (HA) stern (not head) flu protein
UK cements 10-year-partnership with Moderna in major boost for vaccines and research
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-cements-10-year-partnership-with-moderna-in-major-boost-for-vaccines-and-research
to produce up to 250 million vaccines per year
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/22/moderna-build-uk-mrna-vaccine-research-manufacturing-centre-covid
£1bn deal with the UK government
UK government has committed to buying Moderna’s vaccines for the next decade.
Harwell, Oxfordshire
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-64856379
Innovation and Technology Centre built by the 2025
Moderna
provide the UK public with access to mRNA vaccines for a wide range of respiratory diseases
Questions
Control of antigen dose?
How long antigen will be produced for?
Degree of systemic distribution?
Degree of systemic inflammation?
Source