A single vaccine against flu and Covid? It’s not for now, Pfizer announces that the results of the tests carried out are inconclusive
The German BioNTech and American Pfizer laboratories reported on Friday the failure of the last phase of clinical testing to develop a messenger RNA vaccine to fight influenza and Covid-19.
Published on 08/16/2024 at 2:56 p.m.
The phase III clinical trials, carried out on 8,000 adults between 18 and 64 years old, “only achieved one of the two immunity objectives” targeted by the two companies, they indicated in a press release.
In detail, the vaccine candidate has not proven its effectiveness against type B influenza, which was one of its main objectives.
On the other hand, it “obtained higher results against type A influenza, as well as a response against Covid-19 comparable” to other vaccines, detailed the laboratories.
After this failure, BioNTech and Pfizer intend to “evaluate the adjustments to be made to the vaccine in order to improve immune responses against influenza B” and “will discuss the next steps with the health authorities”, according to the press release.
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The two companies recorded conclusive results last year during the second phase of testing of their clinical trials.
This result is all the more disappointing for BioNTech and Pfizer as one of their competitors, the American Moderna, indicated in June that it had obtained good results for its own combined vaccine against influenza and Covid-19.
