CureVac Accepts mRNA Tech For Seasonal Influenza Vaccines

CureVac, in collaboration with GSK, recently announced the entry of its modified mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine candidate with multiple antigens into Phase II clinical trials. The preliminary results of Phase I trials demonstrated favorable safety and immunogenicity outcomes, as well as observed humoral responses, supporting the selection of this vaccine candidate for future investigation in Phase II trials.

CureVac's use of mRNA technology in the development of a seasonal influenza vaccine reflects a growing industry trend, according to GlobalData. “Seasonal influenza vaccines utilising mRNA technology have great potential to enhance vaccine effectiveness. Influenza vaccines produced with mRNA have a shorter production time than egg-based vaccines, cell-based vaccines, or recombinant vaccines. This decrease in production time will allow for the vaccines to be produced closer to the start of flu season, thereby allowing for a better match to the season’s circulating influenza strains” said Stephanie Kurdach, Infectious Disease Analyst, GlobalData.

CureVac is one of several pharmaceutical companies that are exploring the creation of an innovative seasonal influenza vaccine using mRNA technology. GlobalData reports that there are presently 60 vaccines in various stages of development (Phases I-III) for seasonal influenza, with 50 per cent of them being mRNA-based vaccines. Inactivated influenza vaccines, which held a significant portion of the market during the 2022-23 influenza season, constitute only 23 per cent of the vaccines in this development pipeline, as per ETHealthWorld. “There is a noticeable shift in the development pipeline from inactivated influenza vaccines to mRNA vaccines. Currently, three mRNA vaccines are in Phase III development – Pfizer’s qIVR, BioNTech’s BNT-161, and Moderna’s mRNA-1010. We can expect to see pharmaceutical companies strategising to expand their vaccine portfolio by re-purposing their successful COVID mRNA technology into influenza vaccines” added Kurdach.