Clinical Trial of mRNA Universal Influenza Vaccine Candidate Begins https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/clinical-trial-mrna-universal-influenza-vaccine-candidate-begins https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05755620 Clinical trial, experimental universal influenza vaccine National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center (VRC), (part of National Institutes of Health) Enrolling volunteers, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina Phase 1 trial H1ssF-3928 mRNA-LNP, for safety and ability to induce an immune response. N = up to 50 healthy volunteers, (18 through 49) Three groups of 10 participants each 10, 25 and 50 micrograms After evaluation of the data to determine an optimum dosage, an additional 10 to receive the optimum dosage Study include a group, receive a current quadrivalent. Comparison between “immunogenicity and safety” Follow-up appointments for up to one year Annual seasonal flu vaccines Valuable tools in controlling the spread and severity of influenza Do not provide immunity against every flu strain. Each year is based on prediction Vaccine manufacturers then need time (dominant strains of the virus can change) An effective universal flu vaccine Acting NIAID Director Hugh Auchincloss Protecting its recipients against a wide variety of strains, ideally providing durable long-term immunity. “A universal influenza vaccine would be a major public health achievement and could eliminate the need for both annual development of seasonal influenza vaccines, as well as the need for patients to get a flu shot each year” Defence against the spread of a future flu pandemic. Both vaccines use a specific portion of a flu protein, Hemagglutinin (HA) stern (not head) flu protein UK cements 10-year-partnership with Moderna in major boost for vaccines and research https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-cements-10-year-partnership-with-moderna-in-major-boost-for-vaccines-and-research to produce up to 250 million vaccines per year https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/22/moderna-build-uk-mrna-vaccine-research-manufacturing-centre-covid £1bn deal with the UK government UK government has committed to buying Moderna’s vaccines for the next decade. Harwell, Oxfordshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-64856379 Innovation and Technology Centre built by the 2025 Moderna provide the UK public with access to mRNA vaccines for a wide range of respiratory diseases Questions Control of antigen dose? How long antigen will be produced for? Degree of systemic distribution? Degree of systemic inflammation?