Patients could soon be given two-in-one flu and Covid jabs after trials found it was as effective as single jabs.
According to new data from the company, Moderna’s combination vaccine was found to trigger a higher immune response than separate individual shots.
The NHS is currently using Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine alongside Pfizer/BioNTech’s Comirnaty for Covid-19 for its booster programmes.
But Moderna has created and tested a newer version of Spikevax, which includes one dose of flu vaccine.
Experts predict these combination shots could mean patients only needing one shot to protect against both diseases as early as 2025, and competitors Pfizer and BioNTech are developing equivalents.
Experts predict that these combination injections could result in patients only needing one injection to protect against both diseases as early as 2025.
Moderna’s findings showed that the mRNA-1083 vaccine met its goals and generated higher immune responses against flu and Covid than other individual vaccines currently in use, including the current Spikevax.
It is the first time that a company has published final phase 3 data for a combination vaccine.
The mRNA-1083 vaccine matched or improved on current flu vaccines and was better than the existing Spikevax at causing the body to produce antibodies.
Scientists believe this is likely because it was designed to combat newer variants circulating around the world.
The randomized controlled trial involved two groups of about 4,000 people each, with the first group aged 65 and older testing the new vaccine compared to a flu vaccine, Fluzone, and the current Spikevax vaccine.
The second group included adults ages 50 to 64 and included use of the Fluarix flu vaccine.
Stéphane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, told the BBC he hoped the vaccine could be widely available in 2026, or perhaps 2025.
He said: ‘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 greater protection against seasonal diseases. .
‘Moderna is the only company with a positive phase 3 combination vaccine against flu and Covid.
“Building on the momentum of positive Phase 3 data across our respiratory portfolio, we continue to address important unmet medical needs and advance public health.”