Flu Season Is Coming. mRNA Flu Shots Aren ’ t Far Behind

After the remarkable success of the mRNA vaccines in protecting people against COVID-19, scientists are turning their attention next to another annual respiratory scourge: influenza. Both Moderna and Pfizer—makers of the first vaccines to earn U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval using the mRNA technology—are studying whether subbing in the influenza virus’ genetic material in that platform will prove equally fruitful. On Sept. 14, Pfizer announced that the first volunteers had received doses of its mRNA flu shot; the Phase 3 study will involve more than 25,000 adults in the U.S. ages 18 and up who will be randomly assigned to receive either the experimental vaccine or a placebo. In June, Moderna announced its late-stage trial of an mRNA-based influenza vaccine that targets the same flu strains that are expected to circulate this fall and winter. Moderna’s study will involve 6,000 adults in the U.S. and other countries in the southern hemisphere, which experiences its flu season several months before the U.S. Both trials are now at similar stages; neither company has provided a timeline for when they might expect results, and, if those results are positive, when they might submit a request to the FDA for approval. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Public health experts are hoping it won’t be long, however. The advantage of the mRNA platform is that it’s flexible and generalizable. Theoretically, scientists only need...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized healthscienceclimate Vaccines Source Type: news