2023-10-04 20:43:13
Title: Moderna’s Combination Vaccine for COVID-19 and Influenza Expected in 2025
Date: [Current Date]
Moderna, the renowned US biotech company behind the successful COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax, has reported positive study results for its combination vaccine that targets both the coronavirus and influenza. The vaccine, known as mRNA-1083, aims to provide a single injection with dual protection against the two viruses. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel shared details about the vaccine’s development and the potential for an accelerated launch of a cancer vaccine.
The recent phase 1/2 study results have brought Moderna’s combination vaccine closer to market approval. The study evaluated the participants’ immune response by measuring the antibodies in their blood. The findings demonstrate that the combination vaccine induces an immune response comparable or greater than conventional flu vaccines, as well as a similar immune reaction to the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, the combination vaccine exhibited similar side effects to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, with most effects being mild. Moderna assures that no new safety concerns emerged during the study, matching the safety profile of Spikevax. Both vaccines are based on mRNA technology, which involves introducing genetic instructions to produce specific proteins into cells.
With the positive study results, Moderna is now preparing for a phase 3 study, expected to be completed next year. If all goes according to plan and regulatory authorities grant approval, the company aims to bring the combination vaccine to market in 2025. The potential benefits of this vaccine extend beyond patient convenience, as doctors and pharmacies would save time and effort administering a single vaccine instead of separate flu and COVID-19 shots.
Moderna has not disclosed the pricing for the combination vaccine yet. However, the company anticipates a significant increase in business, considering that 500 to 600 million doses of flu vaccine are administered annually, with 150 million in the United States alone. The COVID-19 vaccination rate is also expected to grow, reaching the scale of flu vaccinations in due course. By 2027, Moderna projects sales of the mRNA medicines for respiratory diseases to reach $8 to $15 billion, with a profit of $4 to $9 billion.
Notably, Moderna is not the only player in the race to develop a flu-COVID combination vaccine. The US manufacturer Novavax, along with other biotech firms, is also working on similar vaccines. Seasonal flu outbreaks cause millions of severe illnesses worldwide, with related respiratory diseases claiming between 290,000 and 650,000 lives each year. Vaccines play a crucial role in reducing these numbers.
In addition to developing the combination vaccine, Moderna is actively working on combination vaccines for other respiratory diseases. Notably, they are conducting clinical trials for a combination vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is expected to reach the market in 2026. Moderna aims to release up to 15 new products, leveraging mRNA technology, over the next five years. These products include vaccines against various viruses and also vaccinations targeting cancer.
While the possible market launch for a cancer vaccine was initially expected in 2028, Moderna is optimistic that positive data could expedite the timeline. The CEO anticipates the availability of crucial study data by the end of this year, which would potentially allow accelerated approval by the regulatory authority in the US.
As Moderna continues to make advancements in vaccine development, the company plans to considerably expand its research efforts. The future appears promising for mRNA-based therapies, which can address various diseases and significantly impact global healthcare.
Sources:
– “mRNA vaccination: Moderna’s combination vaccine should come in 2025 – WiWo” – WirtschaftsWoche
– Various statements by Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel]
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