The race for a combined coronavirus and flu vaccine is heating up | Wilnesh News

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good afternoon! Vaccine makers have set their sights on the next big thing: development Combination lens For COVID-19 and influenza.

As COVID-19 vaccination rates decline in the U.S., Pfizer, modern Companies such as and Novavax hope that more convenient combination vaccines that offer protection against two viruses instead of one will increase acceptance among Americans. According to previous reports by CNBC, some health experts have expressed doubts about this belief.

Still, combination vaccines may also reduce the burden of respiratory viruses, which typically circulate at the same time each year, on pharmacists and the broader U.S. health care system.

The race to develop these vaccines is heating up, with all three companies testing their respective vaccines in mid- or late-stage trials.

But Pfizer and its German partners Biotechnology face A setback last weekwhich could put rival Moderna ahead.

Pfizer said on Friday that its messenger RNA-based vaccine, which combines its approved COVID-19 vaccine with an experimental flu vaccine, failed to meet one of the key goals of a Phase 3 trial of more than 8,000 adults, potentially jeopardizing The future of vaccines.

The vaccine produced a more effective immune response to the influenza A strain than licensed influenza vaccines and was as effective against the coronavirus as Pfizer’s existing product. But the vaccine has a weaker immune response than licensed flu vaccines against another strain of the virus called influenza B.

Pfizer and BioNTech will consider adjustments to the combination shot and “discuss next steps with health authorities,” according to a press release.

“We remain optimistic about our combined COVID-19 and influenza plan and we are evaluating next steps for that plan,” Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer’s head of vaccine development, said in a news release.

Pfizer’s outgoing chief scientific officer Mikael Dolsten said at a conference in March that the company hopes to launch its combination vaccine in 2025.

If it does, it could be good news for Moderna. The biotech company’s mRNA-based combination shot was successful in late-stage trials in June, showing a higher immune response than existing individual shots against COVID-19 and influenza.

Moderna plans to apply for regulatory approval for the vaccine and hopes to enter the market in 2025.

“The failure of this (Pfizer and BioNTech) combination vaccine study puts (Moderna) in the lead in the development of an mRNA combination vaccine,” Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said in a report on Friday, adding that Pfizer’s “Updates are raising the possibility that (Moderna’s vaccine) may be the first commercialized combination mRNA vaccine.”

Pfizer’s missteps weigh on Novavax and Sanoficollaborated earlier this year to develop a protein-based COVID-19 and flu vaccine combination. In May, top flu vaccine maker Sanofi agreed to pay Novavax up to $1.2 billion in upfront payments and future milestones, in part to combine the two companies’ vaccines.

Still, it’s possible that Pfizer can make the right tweaks to its vaccine to get it back on track for regulatory approval. For example, Moderna’s original standalone flu vaccine is similar Failure to show immune response Until the company makes adjustments to overcome this setback, it’s as effective as the approved influenza B vaccine.

We’ll be keeping an eye out for any updates in the combo lens world, so stay tuned.

Please feel free to send Annika any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data: annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.

I’m Ashley reporting live from Verona, Wisconsin!

I’m here to attend Epic Systems hosts its first annual User Group Meeting (UGM), and it’s sure to be a big day.

But if that’s not enough to pique your interest, Epic executives will also be speaking in costume. According to reports, the theme of this year’s UGM is “Story Time” Company website. Keep this in mind the next time someone tries to tell you that health care is boring.

As far as announcements go, I expect we’ll hear a lot about Epic’s work integrating artificial intelligence into its software. The company already has more than 60 AI development projects underway, according to its website, and its high-profile partnerships with AI transcription companies such as Abridge and Microsoft-owned Nuance Communications have attracted widespread industry attention this year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, both Nuance and Abridge are here for UGM.

This summer, Epic also made waves in the field of health technology interconnection. The company is one of the organizations helping the federal government establish the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which aims to provide a legal and technical framework for securely sharing patient information.

Epic said on Friday it plans to move all customers to TEFCA by the end of next year. It’s a big move: Given Epic’s massive clout and its 45-year history in the market, the company’s commitment to TEFCA is likely to bolster the exchange’s credibility.

I’d bet Epic’s leadership will be involved in these efforts, as well as other ways the company can leverage its vast network.

Stay tuned for more UGM content from me this week! If you have any suggestions on where I can find the best cheese curds on campus, please get in touch.

Please feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.