A Phase 1 study for a RSV vaccine candidate is also under way.
As part of its Vaccine Day this week, the company has updated its vaccine developement timeline and unveiled results from early stage mRNA vaccine trials.
HIV vaccines: mRNA-1644 and mRNA-1574
Moderna expects to begin three phase 1 clinical trials for two HIV vaccine candidates, mRNA-1644 and mRNA-1574, in 2021.
mRNA-1644 is a novel approach to HIV vaccine strategy in humans designed to elicit broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies (bNAbs). It is being developed in collaboration with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). A Phase 1 study for the candidate will use iterative human testing to validate the approach and antigens and multiple novel antigens will be used for germline-targeting and immuno-focusing.
A second approach, mRNA-1574, is being evaluated with the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and includes multiple native-like trimer antigens.
mRNA flu vaccine candidate: mRNA-1010
Moderna’s flu program is assessing multiple candidates, comprising multiple antigen combinations against the four seasonal viruses recommended by the WHO. The Company expects to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial for the program this year.
Beyond this, it wants to explore potential combination vaccines against flu, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).
Current flu vaccines in the market have efficacy rates in the regoin of 40-60%: which Moderna believes its mRNA technology can improve on. It also says that its technology has several advantages over egg-based vaccine production: not only in terms of production advances but in accurately targetting vaccines against strains (egg-based production has the potential to cause unintended antigenic change to the vaccine virus).