GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has made significant progress in its pursuit of an effective mRNA-based seasonal influenza vaccine. The company announced positive results from a Phase 2 trial evaluating various mRNA formulations in both older and younger adults. The trial’s primary goal was to assess the vaccine’s ability to generate robust immune responses against influenza A and B strains, surpassing the effectiveness of current standard-of-care vaccines.
The data revealed promising results, demonstrating that the mRNA vaccine candidates successfully elicited strong immune responses against both influenza A and B strains. Importantly, the vaccine met all predefined success criteria in both the older and younger adult age groups. This positive outcome builds upon the results from a previous Phase 2 trial and further confirms the potential of GSK’s mRNA platform to elicit strong antibody titres while maintaining an acceptable safety profile.
Following these encouraging results, GSK’s mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine program will now advance to late-stage clinical development. The vaccine candidate, based on CureVac N.V.’s proprietary second-generation mRNA backbone, holds significant promise in the ongoing fight against seasonal influenza.
The Phase 2 study was initiated after the release of interim data from the Phase 1/2 study in April. In July, GSK and CureVac restructured their existing collaboration into a new licensing agreement, allowing both companies to prioritize their respective mRNA development activities. This shift reflects the growing importance and potential of mRNA technology in the development of new vaccines and therapies.
Since 2020, GSK and CureVac have collaborated to develop mRNA vaccines targeting infectious diseases. This partnership has been instrumental in advancing the development of this promising new vaccine candidate.
GSK stock closed down 0.91% at $43.37, and CVAC stock closed down 1.98% at $2.97 on Thursday. This slight dip in stock prices may be attributable to investors’ cautious approach as the vaccine continues to progress through the clinical trial phases.
