Moderna to Roll out Combined Covid-Flu-RSV Booster Vaccine in Late 2023

Moderna Inc. (Cambridge, MA, USA) is developing a single vaccine that combines a booster dose against COVID-19 with its experimental flu shot.

The announcement was made by CEO Stephane Bancel at the World Economic Forum's virtual Davos Agenda conference. Moderna already has multiple influenza vaccine candidates under development. The new vaccine will combine the experimental flu shot that is furthest along with its COVID-19 vaccine. In the best case scenario, the company expects its combined COVID/flu vaccine to be available in time for the winter infectious season in 2023, at least in some countries. Moderna aims to eventually add the vaccines that it is working on for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory diseases as an annual shot. The company has begun conducting clinical trials for an RSV vaccine in older adults.

"Our goal is to be able to have a single annual booster so that we don't have compliance issues where people don't want to get two to three shots a winter," said Bancel.

Additionally, Moderna’s vaccine candidate against the Omicron coronavirus variant will enter clinical development in the next few weeks. Bancel said that the development of the company’s vaccine candidate specifically targeting Omicron was almost over and it would enter clinical development imminently. Moderna expects to be able to share data with regulatory authorities around March, he added.

"The vaccine is being finished ... it should be in the clinic in coming weeks. We are hoping in the March timeframe to be able to have data to share with regulators to figure out next steps," said Bancel.

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