Q&A: Are combination vaccines the future for respiratory infections?
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Key takeaways:
- Moderna’s combination COVID-19 influenza vaccine showed positive data against three influenza strains.
- The vaccine also showed positive data for protecting against the omicron COVID-19 variant.
Moderna announced positive phase 3 trial data for its combination COVID-19 and influenza vaccine on Monday.
"Combination vaccines have the potential to reduce the burden of respiratory viruses on health systems and pharmacies, as well as offer people more convenient vaccination options that could improve compliance and provide stronger protection from seasonal illnesses," Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, MSc, MBA, said in a press release.
“Moderna is the only company with a positive phase 3 flu and COVID combination vaccine,” he added.
The data, which have not been published yet, though Moderna plans to present at an upcoming conference, came from an ongoing trial assessing two groups of patients — one consisting of adults aged between 50 and 64 years old and the other of adults aged 65 and older — with approximately 4,000 patients in each group.
In both age cohorts, the vaccine, mRNA-1083, elicited “statistically significantly higher immune responses” against three influenza virus strains — H1N1, H3N2, and B/Victoria — and SARS-CoV-2 compared with available influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
Specifically, the data showed that among the 65 years and older cohort, the overall geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of the mRNA-1083 group compared with the Fluzone HD vaccine for the various influenza strains were 1.155 (95% CI, 1.094-1.220) for A/H1N1, 1.063 (95% CI, 1.007-1.122) for A/H3N2 and 1.118 (95% CI, 1.070-1.167) for B/Victoria. Additionally, the GMR of mRNA-1083 compared to Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine for the COVID-19 omicron variant was 1.641 (95% CI, 1.526-1.765).
In the 50 to 64 year cohort, the GMRs of the mRNA-1083 group compared with the Fluarix group for the influenza virus strains were 1.414 (95% CI, 1.333-1.500) for A/H1N1, 1.380 (95% CI, 1.310-1.454) for A/H3N2 and 1.216 (95% CI, 1.163-1.270) for B/Victoria, whereas the GMR of mRNA-1083 for the COVID-19 omicron variant was 1.308 (95% CI, 1.219-1.404).
Following the announcement of the positive data, we spoke with Amesh A. Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, about what the potential success of this combination vaccine could mean for respiratory infections and what the future of mRNA technology could look like.
Healio: Is there something about mRNA technology that makes it easier to develop combination vaccines?
Adalja: Combination vaccines existed long before mRNA vaccines. For example, MMR; measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV); and other pediatric vaccines — including ones that combine five different targets — have been in routine use for decades.
Healio: Does this vaccine fulfill the promise of mRNA as a versatile technology that can help develop vaccines faster?
Adalja: MRNA technology can be used to speed the process of vaccine development against a target because of the simplicity of it. Once an immune target is identified and the genetic code determined, the mRNA transcript of it can be generated basically immediately. This same process can be used, in essence, on any target, removing the need to begin again with each new target. This is why it is considered a platform technology.
Healio: We already have combinations vaccines for other diseases, such as DTaP, Tdap and the hexavalent children’s vaccine . Are combination vaccines the future for preventing respiratory infections?
Adalja: Combination vaccinations markedly increase convenience and decrease the need for multiple injections so, when feasible, they are preferred.
Healio: Is there a combination vaccine that does not exist that you would like to see be developed?
Adalja: The more combination vaccines, the better.
References:
- Moderna announces positive phase 3 data for combination vaccine against influenza and COVID-19. https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2024/Moderna-Announces-Positive-Phase-3-Data-for-Combination-Vaccine-Against-Influenza-and-COVID-19-/default.aspx. Published June 10, 2024. Accessed June 12, 2024.
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