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Now Testing One for Flu

Moderna has launched a trial of an mRNA-based vaccine for seasonal influenza, according to the Verge.

Ars Technica adds that the candidate vaccine, called mRNA-1010, targets four influenza lineages similar to current flu vaccines. According to Moderna, the vaccine targets the lineages recommend by the World Health Organization: the seasonal influenza A lineages H1N1 and H3N2 as well as the influenza B lineages Yamagata and Victoria.

The Phase 1/2 randomized trial is to enroll about 180 participants to gauge the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of the candidate flu vaccine, the company adds. Eventually, Moderna hopes to bundle it with other vaccines for diseases like respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus and possibly SARS-CoV-2, according to Ars Technica.

"Our vision is to develop an mRNA combination vaccine so that people can get one shot each fall for high efficacy protection against the most problematic respiratory viruses," Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, says in a statement.

The Verge notes that Sanofi and Translate Bio have also begun a trial of an mRNA-based flu vaccine and that Pfizer and BioNTech are interested in one, too.