Combo vaccine prompts robust immune responses against influenza A, influenza B, and COVID-19

Viral infections are difficult to treat and several vaccines are being tested for a while in combination. Two pharma giants Pzifer and BioNTech announced positive topline results from a Phase 1/2 study evaluating the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of mRNA-based combination vaccine candidates for influenza and COVID-19 among healthy adults 18 to 64 years of age.

The press release by Pzifer on Oct 26th reveals that lead formulations evaluated in the Phase 1/2 study demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 strains. Safety profile of the mRNA-based combination vaccine candidates consistent with the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine. The companies plan to start a pivotal Phase 3 trial in the coming months.

In the clinical trial, the vaccine candidates were compared to a licensed influenza vaccine and the companies’ Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine given at the same visit. The data from the trial showed that the companies' lead formulations demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 strains.

The study reports the following

• The top results of the ongoing trial demonstrated that the combination formulations evaluated had a safety profile consistent with the safety profile of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine.