Moderna announces new program to develop a triple shot vaccine

The drug manufacturer has announced it’s working on a vaccine to protect against three viruses as part of its “game plan” for the post-pandemic era.

Drug manufacturer Moderna has announced it’s working on a triple shot vaccine that will protect against Covid-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

Testing is already underway on a stand-alone flu vaccine, a stand-alone RSV vaccine, and various versions of its Covid-19 vaccine, and has a combination flu and Covid-19 vaccine in preclinical development.

Known as mRNA-1230, the new triple-shot will be part of Moderna’s game plan for the post pandemic era., with phase one - a Covid-19 booster which includes protection against the Omicron strain - expected to be ready by Spring this year.

Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: AFP

The company would then steadily expand the shot to protect against Covid-19 and flu, and then Covid-19 and flu and RSV.

In addition to the RSV/Covid-19/flu vaccine program, Moderna also announced on Tuesday they will be developing a vaccine to protect against common viruses that cause a large portion of the world’s respiratory tract infections.

“We are pleased to add a combination respiratory vaccine candidate against three of the leading causes of respiratory disease in older adults, and a vaccine against all four of the endemic human coronaviruses as part of our strategy to address the substantial global burden of respiratory infections,” Moderna president Dr Stephen Hoge said.

“Our goal is to develop vaccines to address respiratory infections, and eventually combine many into a single annual booster vaccine with the aim of reducing the significant morbidity and mortality caused by these viruses.”

People sit outside at a cafe Germany as restrictions ease. Picture: Getty Images

The latest development comes as several European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Britain, lifted their Covid restrctions too “brutally” and are now seeing a rise in cases likely due to the more transmissible BA2 variant, according to the World Health Organisation.

WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told a press conference in Moldova on Tuesday that he was “optimistic but vigilant” about the pandemic’s development in Europe.

He siad Covid is on the rise in 18 out of 53 countries in the WHO European region.

According to the WHO database, the number of new Covid cases in Europe fell sharply after a peak at the end of January, but has been on the rise again since early March.

Over the past seven days, more than 5.1 million new cases and 12,496 deaths have been reported in the WHO’s European region.

That brings the number of cases since the start of the pandemic to almost 194.4 million and the number of deaths to more than 1.92 million.

Moderna flagged in the past plans for the program as a step in its long-term plan to develop a single annual booster vaccine that protects against a range of respiratory viruses.

Testing is already underway on a stand-alone flu vaccine, a stand-alone RSV vaccine, and various versions of its Covid-19 vaccine, and a combination flu and Covid-19 vaccine is in preclinical development.

Known as mRNA-1230, the new program represents a piece of Moderna’s game plan for the post pandemic era.

The plan is expected to begin with a Covid-19 booster in Spring this year, which will include protection against the Omicron strain.

Moderna is working on a triple shot vaccine. Picture: AFP

The company would then steadily expand the shot to protect against Covid-19 and flu, and then Covid-19 and flu and RSV.

In addition to the RSV/Covid-19/flu vaccine program, Moderna also announced on Tuesday that they will be developing a vaccine to protect against common viruses that cause a large portion of the world’s respiratory tract infections.

“We are pleased to add a combination respiratory vaccine candidate against three of the leading causes of respiratory disease in older adults, and a vaccine against all four of the endemic human coronaviruses as part of our strategy to address the substantial global burden of respiratory infections,” president of Moderna Dr Stephen Hoge said.

“Our goal is to develop vaccines to address respiratory infections, and eventually combine many into a single annual booster vaccine with the aim of reducing the significant morbidity and mortality caused by these viruses.”

Vaccines provide protection against serious illness and death. Picture: Getty Images

The latest development comes as several European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Britain, lifted their Covid curbs too “brutally” and are now seeing a rise in cases likely due to the more transmissible BA2 variant, according to the World Health Organisation.

WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told a press conference in Moldova on Tuesday that he was “optimistic but vigilant” about the pandemic’s development in Europe.

Covid is on the rise in 18 out of 53 countries in the WHO European region, he said.

According to the WHO database, the number of new Covid cases in Europe fell sharply after a peak at the end of January, but has been on the rise again since early March.

Over the past seven days, more than 5.1 million new cases and 12,496 deaths have been reported in the WHO’s European region.

That brings the number of cases since the start of the pandemic to almost 194.4 million and the number of deaths to more than 1.92 million.

Originally published as Moderna announces new program to develop a triple shot vaccine