Pfizer and BioNTech Advance mRNA-Based Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine into Phase 1 Clinical Trial

Today, Pfizer announced that the mRNA quadrivalent influenza vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, has completed dosing of the first adult volunteers in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Beyond influenza, the company also plans to explore the application of mRNA in other respiratory viruses, including combination vaccines capable of providing protection against multiple respiratory viruses. Furthermore, it will expand the application of mRNA technology in oncology and genetic diseases.

Conventional seasonal influenza vaccines are typically manufactured by cultivating the virus in embryonated chicken eggs or mammalian cells, followed by inactivation to formulate the vaccine. This process faces multiple challenges, including immunogenic responses to egg- or mammalian cell-derived components, difficulties in keeping pace with viral strain evolution, and antigenic alterations during production. Since vaccine strains must be selected six months prior to the onset of the Northern Hemisphere influenza season, they may not always match the circulating viral strains.

Even when the vaccine strain matches the circulating virus strain well, the protective efficacy of current seasonal vaccines against circulating strains is typically 40%–60%.

The design of mRNA-based influenza vaccines requires only the viral genetic sequence. The flexibility of mRNA technology and its rapid manufacturing capabilities may enable better viral strain matching, greater supply reliability, and improved influenza vaccine effectiveness. Furthermore, in the event of an influenza pandemic, mRNA technology allows for the rapid, large-scale production of effective vaccines.

References:

[1] Pfizer Starts Study of mRNA-Based Next Generation Flu Vaccine Program. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210927005588/en

(Original text abridged)

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