Although influenza is very common, the difficulty of developing influenza vaccines is also recognized, mainly because the influenza virus has been mutating, and the effectiveness of influenza vaccines on the market is generally not high.

Introduction

Although influenza is very common, the difficulty of developing influenza vaccines is also recognized, mainly because influenza virus has been mutating, and the effectiveness of influenza vaccines on the market is generally not high.

Recently, mRNA-1010, a seasonal influenza candidate vaccine, has entered the Phase 3 clinical trial. It is one of Moderna's most advanced vaccine candidates beyond the COVID-19 vaccine and one of the four flu vaccines the company is developing.

In addition to mRNA 1010, Moderna has also developed vaccines with multi-antigen, multivalent, and complex efficacy, aiming to provide vaccine protection for possible epidemics in the future.

So, what are the advantages of mRNA research and development platform developing influenza vaccines? Why is Moderna so fast?

Compilation | Li Xiaowei

1

mRNA influenza vaccine has the advantages?

Modna shines in vaccine research and development. Since the successful development of the new crown vaccine , it has stepped up efforts to develop mRNA vaccines in many fields. Influenza mRNA vaccine is one of the important areas of its layout.

Recently, the Phase 3 trial of the influenza vaccine mRNA-1010 developed by Moderna will recruit about 6,000 adults to carry out in the southern hemisphere. If it can be launched in the end, this will be the world's first mRNA influenza vaccine. Let's wait and see whether the mRNA vaccine can shine in the field of influenza.

This randomized double-blind trial aims to evaluate the existing licensed seasonal influenza vaccine in adults aged 18 years and above to verify the safety and immunological non-inferiority of the mRNA-1010 vaccine. Participants will randomly distribute single doses of mRNA-1010 or single doses of marketed seasonal influenza vaccine in a 1:1 ratio, and the two indicators are used as comparison objects.

So, what are the advantages of Moderna mRNA influenza vaccine? mRNA-1010 is a candidate influenza vaccine encoding WHO (WHO) recommended hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein of four influenza strains recommended for influenza prevention, including AH1N1 influenza , AH3N2, and B/Yagata and B/Victoria (HA is a major influenza surface glycoprotein, considered an important target for the production of widespread influenza protection and is also the main target for currently available influenza vaccines) .

Modna's influenza vaccine research and development pipeline is very rich

It is worth mentioning that the company has five other mRNA influenza candidate vaccines, at least two vaccines have entered the clinical phase 1, and the others are still in the preclinical development process. As a brief overview will be made as follows:

One, mRNA-1011 and mRNA-1012 include additional HA antigens, which can cover the circulating influenza A virus strains more widely. These two candidate vaccines are under preclinical research.

Second, mRNA-1020 and mRNA-1030 include HA and neuraminidase (NA) antigens (thus targeting multiple proteins in the life cycle of the influenza virus and reducing the possibility of viral antigen escape). Moderna is expected to enter the Phase 1/2 trial at the beginning of 2022.

At the same time, Moderna is also developing a combined vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza (mRNA-1073), as well as another combined vaccine against COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

2

Modner re-engages the influenza field

Although the serious situation of seasonal influenza varies every year, according to the WHO survey, there are about 5 million severe influenza cases around the world every year, and at least 290,000 people die from respiratory tracts.

mRNA vaccine is being used in many areas of disease

In addition, the effectiveness of existing influenza vaccines is only 30% or even lower, and most of them are developed through chicken embryos. The antigen in the vaccine may change, affecting the effectiveness of vaccination.

Modna CEO Stéphane Bancel

mRNA-1010 is Moderna's fourth mRNA candidate vaccine. Phase 3 trials are initiated with COVID-19 booster shots, RSV and CMV vaccines. According to Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, pipelines for advanced vaccine candidates are likely to be released in the next two to three years.

"mRNA-1010 is one of several influenza vaccine candidate vaccines we are developing, with the aim of iteratively improving traditional vaccines by inducing a wide range of and powerful immune responses. We believe that our mRNA platform, with the flexibility and speed of the mRNA manufacturing process, can well address the significant unmet needs in seasonal influenza, and

Bancel also stated, " influenza vaccine is a key pillar of our respiratory vaccine strategy, including the development of a combination of candidate vaccines against multiple viruses in a single vaccine, including influenza with SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus ." ”

Reference

.https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2022/06/07/moderna-takes-mrna-influenza-candidate-into-phase-3-trial

2.https://geneonline.news/mrna-flu-vaccine-moderna/

2.https://geneonline.news/mrna-flu-vaccine-moderna/