In May, AstraZeneca began the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, due to a “surplus of updated vaccines” that target new variants. Then in June, Moderna announced positive late-stage trial results for its single COVID/flu combination vaccine, mRNA-1083. On the back of this, we look at the future impact of mRNA vaccines.
Visiting Lecturer in Infectious Diseases at a number of universities in London
Until more broadly protective coronavirus vaccines become available, continued evolution of SARS-CoV-2 will likely require repeated updating of our COVID-19 vaccines. mRNA vaccines are much easier to modify, synthesise and manufacture at scale than viral vector-based ones, or whole pathogen vaccines. Unlike viral vectors, which also induce immune responses to the vector that can reduce the efficiency of subsequent immunisations, mRNA vaccines only trigger immune responses to their target(s). As well as being preventative, vaccine-triggered immune responses can potentially also enable the treatment of ongoing infections and cancers, so mRNA vaccines will undoubtedly continue making impacts into the future.
Principal Lecturer in Cellular Pathology, Nottingham Trent University
I am confident that mRNA vaccines are part of the future, but they aren’t the whole future. There is much more to learn and develop as we see new breakthroughs and new technologies – but, in the near future, mRNA vaccines are centre stage. We’ve seen how impactful they have been through COVID; now there is a melanoma treatment being developed and there will soon be other preventative and therapeutic mRNA developments. There are so many co-emergent technologies coming together – molecular pathology and rapid vaccine deployment mean that we can provide specific treatment for patients. We are on the cusp of truly personalised medicine, with a treatment specifically focused on the gene expression in that patient’s disease, rather than a “best-fit” approach.
Principal Lecturer, School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton
The first RNA vaccines in the early 2000s were raised against specific cancers. Some research was also conducted into RNA vaccines against some human viruses. However, nucleic acid-based vaccines presented scientific and technical issues, which required patience, suitable labs and ongoing funding. Resources put into development of the COVID-19 vaccines has led to benefits for other types of RNA vaccine. There are several in the pipeline against infectious diseases and clinical trials of a personalised anti-melanoma vaccine started recently. RNA vaccines have gone from a theoretical possibility to a real prospect in 25 years.
Moderna’s combination vaccine
What did the latest trial reveal and when will it be available? We look at the latest.
In June, Moderna said its combination vaccine to protect against COVID and influenza generated a stronger immune response in adults aged 50 and over when compared with separate shots against the viruses in a late-stage trial.
In the study, the combination using mRNA technology generated greater antibodies than currently marketed traditional flu vaccines and Moderna’s Spikevax mRNA COVID shot, the company said.
The vaccine elicited a higher immune response against two A strains and one B strain of the flu in older adults when compared with widely used flu shots from GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi, according to the company.
Moderna President Stephen Hoge said he hopes to launch the combination shot for the autumn respiratory disease season in 2025.
Moderna also said the combination was found to be safe and tolerable in the latest study, and that rates of adverse side effects were similar to those of the other vaccines used in the trial.
Full results of the study were yet to be published at the time of going to press, but the company said they are due be released at an upcoming medical conference.
Image Credit | Simon Dack Photography | Shutterstock | Supplied
