Flu and COVID-19 Combo Vaccine Candidate Found Effective in Preclinical Study

Maryland-based Novavax, Inc. announced data from a preclinical study of the company's combination quadrivalent seasonal flu vaccine (NanoFlu™) and COVID-19 vaccine candidate (NVX-CoV2373) on May 10, 2021.

The NanoFlu/NVX-CoV2373 combination vaccine demonstrated positive immune responses to both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters.

The combination vaccine-elicited robust responses to both influenza A and B and protected against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Human-based clinical studies of the combination vaccine are expected to begin by the end of 2021.

A pre-print of the manuscript, titled 'Combination Respiratory Vaccine Containing Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Quadrivalent Seasonal Influenza Hemagglutinin Nanoparticles with Matrix-M™ Adjuvant,' studied a combination vaccine comprising a quadrivalent nanoparticle influenza vaccine formulated together with a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein vaccine and Matrix-M™ adjuvant.

"Despite low rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza remains a significant risk to global public health, and the need for versatile, more effective vaccines is as important as ever, including against the flu," said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President of Research and Development, Novavax, in a press release.

"We believe that this novel combination vaccine candidate, which leverages Novavax' technology platform and Matrix-M™ adjuvant, could be an important future tool in the long-term fight against both of these harmful respiratory viruses."

As of May 7, 2021, the U.S. CDC reported the 2020-2021 flu season produced very few influenza hospitalizations and related fatalities.

Novavax developed a recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) quadrivalent nanoparticle influenza vaccine (qNIV) produced using an established recombinant insect cell expression system to produce nanoparticles. Influenza qNIV adjuvanted with Matrix-M was well-tolerated and induced robust antibody and cellular responses, notably against both homologous and drifted A/H3N2 viruses in Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials. 

This study findings support evaluating the qNIV/CoV2373 combination vaccine as a preventive measure for seasonal influenza and CoVID-19.

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) is a biotechnology company that promotes improved health globally by discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative vaccines to prevent serious infectious diseases.