Enhanced Optimization for Influenza B Strains Planned in CureVac’s mRNA Seasonal Flu Vaccine Trials

1. CureVac, in collaboration with GSK, announces promising Phase 2 interim data for their mRNA seasonal flu vaccine candidate.
2. The multivalent candidate encodes antigens matching all four World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended flu strains.
3. Geometric mean titers for influenza A strains numerically surpassed those elicited by licensed comparator vaccines, while those for influenza B strains were lower.
4. CureVac plans targeted optimizations to further enhance immune responses against influenza B strains, which will be tested in an additional Phase 2 study.
5. The vaccine candidate has shown acceptable safety profile with well-tolerated doses, confirming previous findings on the mRNA platform.
6. CureVac's approach aligns with other initial mRNA-based clinical flu development programs, such as Moderna's, which also faced challenges with influenza B strains.
7. The current Phase 2 dose-confirmation study assesses reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity of different dose levels in younger (aged 18–64) and older adults (aged 65–85).