A Shot in the Arm: Moderna's Flu Vaccine Steps Up
USAMon Jun 30 2025
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Moderna's latest flu vaccine trial results are in, and they're looking good. The company's experimental mRNA-based flu shot showed a stronger immune response than the standard flu vaccine currently in use. This is big news, especially since Moderna is also working on a combo shot that targets both flu and COVID-19.
Earlier this year, Moderna pulled its application for the combo shot after talks with the FDA. But now, with these new trial results, they're ready to try again. The company plans to resubmit the application for the combo shot and also seek approval for the standalone flu vaccine later this year.
So, what does this mean? Well, if the flu vaccine gets the green light, Moderna can move forward with the combo shot. The company expects both shots to be approved next year, pending reviews. This could be a game-changer, making vaccinations simpler and potentially reducing the workload for healthcare workers.
Moderna's trial involved over 40, 000 adults aged 50 and above. The results showed that Moderna's shot was about 26. 6% more effective overall than the standard flu vaccine. It also worked well against major influenza strains like A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B/Victoria. Plus, the vaccine's benefits were consistent across different age groups and health conditions.
The trial also found that in adults aged 65 and older, the shot was 27. 4% more effective than the standard flu vaccine. This is a big deal, as older adults are more vulnerable to severe flu complications. Moderna's CEO highlighted that these results are a significant step in reducing the impact of flu in older adults, especially given the severe flu season last year.
Last year's flu season was rough, with over 600, 000 Americans hospitalized due to flu-related illness. This underscores the need for more effective vaccines. Moderna's mRNA-1010 vaccine showed promising safety data, consistent with previous studies.
Despite these positive results, Moderna's shares have been down over 30% this year. This is partly due to changes in vaccine policy and funding cuts by the current administration. However, Moderna remains optimistic about its future in the vaccine market, which includes not just flu but also COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.
Moderna is racing against other companies like Pfizer and Novavax to bring a combo shot to market. While they don't have specific revenue projections, they're confident that their products will earn a significant share of these multi-billion-dollar markets.
