Moderna said it has begun human trials of a flu vaccine using messenger RNA technology, the same technology used in the Covid-19 vaccine.
US biotechnology company Moderna said on Wednesday Human trials of influenza vaccine using messenger RNA technology have begun, which is the same thing used in his vaccine against Covid-19. These trials will include 180 adults to assess the safety and severity of the immune response resulting from the injection of this product, called mRNA-1010.
If successful, these trials could lead to a new generation of better-performing influenza vaccines. Current flu vaccines use inactivated viruses that have lost their ability to cause infection, but are still able to stimulate an immune system response. The strain used must be selected months in advance, and its effectiveness is between 40 and 60%.
Messenger RNA vaccines focus on a small part of the virus – for example, in the case of the coronavirus, the so-called “spike” protein. Strands of genetic instructions called messenger RNA are injected into the body, instructing the body to make that specific antigen, the “spike” of the coronavirus.
Towards a faster development of influenza vaccines?
This point, harmless in itself, is then detected by the immune system, producing antibodies. These antibodies can then fight the virus in the event of a true infection.
Moderna hopes that this technology will allow for faster development of influenza vaccines. Different strains can also be targeted in a single injection, as the tested vaccine will target influenza A subtypes known as H1N1 and H3N2, as well as influenza B, Yamagata and Victoria strains.
The World Health Organization estimates that cold Responsible for about 3 to 5 million cases of serious illness each year, and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths.
