Universal Influenza Vaccine Candidate Shows Progress

The JAMA Network published an article by Jennifer Abbasi on January 12, 2021, stating an experimental flu vaccine regimen induced lasting antibodies against a range of influenza strains, according to the final results of a phase 1 trial, published by Nature Medicine.

In the study, 65 healthy volunteers had sustained antibody titers higher than that associated with natural immunity against the H1N1 virus in a previous study, suggesting a strong and durable response. In laboratory tests, the antibodies broadly protected against different group 1 influenza A strains and, when transferred to mice, kept them from losing weight after a viral challenge.

Writing in Nature Medicine, the authors noted 'that research is underway to develop broad vaccines against group 2 influenza A, as well as influenza B, viruses. If successful, a trivalent regimen that combines these candidates ideally would protect against all flu strains—a truly universal flu vaccine.'