CureVac Reveals Positive Interim Phase 2 Results for Seasonal Flu Vaccine in Partnership with GSK

A recent study has shown that a new seasonal flu vaccine candidate has successfully increased antibody levels across all tested dosages and for all types of seasonal influenza strains, in both young and elderly adults. This innovative vaccine, developed by CureVac, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in mRNA technology, is multivalent and contains antigens that match the four flu strains recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The vaccine candidate's performance was particularly impressive for influenza A strains, where it consistently outperformed licensed comparator vaccines in terms of geometric mean titers across all tested dosages and age groups. However, for influenza B strains, the geometric mean titers were slightly lower compared to the licensed vaccines, which is in line with expectations and other mRNA-based flu vaccine development programs. 

To address this, CureVac plans to conduct further optimizations and test them in an additional Phase 2 study. The vaccine candidate has demonstrated a good safety profile, with most adverse events reported as mild or moderate within a week of vaccination. This aligns with previous findings that the company's proprietary platform can elicit robust antibody responses at well-tolerated dosages. 

Dr. Myriam Mendila, CureVac's Chief Development Officer, expressed confidence in the company's mRNA technology platform and its potential to advance the seasonal influenza vaccine program. She noted that while the results for influenza A strains were strong, the company is aware of the challenges posed by influenza B strains and is committed to enhancing the vaccine's performance against these strains. The ongoing Phase 2 study involves the assessment of reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in 480 healthy adults aged 18 to 64 and 480 healthy older adults aged 65 to 85. The study compares the candidate's performance to that of an age-appropriate licensed comparator vaccine. 

CureVac is a global leader in mRNA technology, with over two decades of experience in developing and manufacturing mRNA for medical applications. The company's technology uses optimized mRNA to instruct the body to produce proteins that combat various diseases. CureVac has a broad clinical pipeline that includes prophylactic vaccines, cancer therapies, antibody therapies, and treatments for rare diseases. The company is headquartered in Tübingen, Germany, and employs over 1,100 people across multiple international sites. 

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