In a recent development by the biotech company Novavax, created two new vaccines — one that combines protection against COVID-19 and influenza (flu) in a single shot, and another that is a standalone flu vaccine.
These vaccines were tested in a late-stage trial on adults aged 65 and older.
The results showed that both vaccines generated a strong immune response, similar to already approved vaccines for these viruses. Importantly, they were well tolerated and showed no new safety concerns.
The trial involved around 2,000 participants and compared the new combination and flu vaccines with Novavax’s existing COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid and Sanofi’s flu vaccine Fluzone HD. While the study wasn’t designed to show statistically significant results, the data will help plan a future trial aimed at getting regulatory approval.
Novavax is now focusing on partnering with other companies to commercialize and further develop these vaccines. They already signed a deal with Sanofi worth up to $1.2 billion for their COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid.
Recently, Nuvaxovid got approval in the U.S., but only for older adults and high-risk individuals over the age of 12. Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines, Nuvaxovid is a traditional protein-based shot.
The report also mentions a controversial decision by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dismissed the entire panel of vaccine experts at the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health professionals are concerned that this move may reduce public trust in existing vaccinies.
