Pfizer and BioNTech have begun clinical trials on a vaccine targeting Covid-19 and influenza. announced Thursday.
The Phase 1 trial involved 180 participants aged 18 to 64 in the United States, and the first participant was dosed this week, the companies said. The follow-up period for each participant will be six months.
In this Sept. 8, 2022, file photo, a teenager receives Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 booster vaccine BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Penn.
Hannah Beyer / Reuters
“By combining both indications in a single vaccine approach, we aim to provide individuals with an efficient way to receive the vaccine against two severe respiratory disease viruses that require vaccine adaptation,” said Dr. Ugur Sahin, CEO and Co-Founder of BioNTech. In the description.
The combination vaccine is based on the current bivalent covid-19 booster and quadrivalent mRNA flu vaccine, which is designed to protect against four different flu viruses.
The Phase 1 trial will test the dose for safety, immune response, and optimal vaccine dose before moving to larger trials. The data provide insight into the potential of mRNA vaccines to address more than one pathogen, Sahin said.
Annalisa Anderson, senior vice president of vaccine research and development at Pfizer, called it “an exciting step in our continued journey with BioEnTech as we work together to prevent infectious diseases around the world.”
“Even with current seasonal influenza vaccines The burden of this virus According to the statement, it is serious, causing thousands of deaths and hospitalizations worldwide.
In this Sept. 9, 2022 file photo, a person gets a flu shot from a pharmacist at an event hosted by the Chicago Department of Public Health at the Southwest Senior Center in Chicago.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Research suggests that the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine wanes over time, although it’s not clear that every American needs an annual Covid-19 booster. As scientists continue to assess the need, several companies are developing a vaccine that will protect against both the seasonal flu and COVID-19 each fall.
In addition to Pfizer, pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Novavax have announced plans to work on the combo shot.
Moderna said it expects to begin clinical trials of a single-dose vaccine, which is promising against COVID-19 and against the flu, by the end of the year, with hopes that the vaccine will be available for the 2023 season.
“We believe that this is a very big opportunity ahead of us, if we can bring a pan-respirator annual incentive to the market with high efficiency,” said Modena COE Stefan Bansel at the investor meeting on September 9.
Last year, Novavax enrolled people in a Phase 1/2 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immune response of a combination vaccine using the company’s current influenza and Covid-19 vaccines. Phase 2 validation testing is expected to begin later this year, the company said in October.