Moderna has announced that its combination vaccine, mRNA-1083, targeting both Covid-19 and the flu, will move to a final stage trial in adults aged 50 and above this year after showing positive results in an early to mid-stage study. The biotech company aims to seek approval from regulators for the combination vaccine in 2025. Moderna, along with other vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, believes that combination vaccines could simplify protection against respiratory viruses that often surge simultaneously. Combination vaccines are seen as an opportunity to enhance consumer and provider experience, improve compliance with public health recommendations, and provide value for healthcare systems.
In the early to mid-stage clinical trial, the mRNA-1083 shot demonstrated an immune response comparable to or greater than two currently available flu vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline. The combination vaccine also produced an immune response similar to Moderna’s bivalent Covid vaccine, which targets omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, along with the original strain of the virus. The trial included participants aged 50 to 64 and those aged 65 to 79, with safety data for mRNA-1083 being similar to Moderna’s standalone Covid shot and no new safety concerns identified with the combination vaccine.
Moderna is also working on developing a combination shot for the flu and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and another vaccine targeting all three respiratory viruses: Covid, flu, and RSV. Pfizer and BioNTech are also in the process of developing a vaccine that addresses both Covid and the flu, with a phase one trial initiated in November and an expected launch in 2024 or later. Combination vaccines are viewed as a promising strategy to enhance protection against multiple respiratory viruses and streamline vaccination efforts.
