Novavax COVID-Flu Vaccine Shows Positive Results from Initial Trials; Formulation ‘Safe with Mostly Mild Side Effects’

Novavax, a Maryland-based vaccine manufacturer, released the middle of this week initial results from an early clinical phase trial of its COVID-Flu combination vaccine.

A Forbes report specified that the results showed that the combination vaccine generated immune responses in patients that were comparable with those of its stand-alone COVID-19 and Flu vaccines. The company found the formulation of the vaccine to be safe as well, with most mild side effects.

According to Novavax's president of R&D Gregory Glenn, they are encouraged by the data and the potential path for a combination COVID-Flu vaccine, and stand-alone vaccines for Flu and COVID-19.

Nanoparticles Used

As specified in the statement released by Novavax, the company's vaccine is different from the mRNA vaccines that Moderna, Pfizer, and BioNTech developed.

Novavax's vaccines use nanoparticles that imitate proteins from the COVID-19 or influenza virus or both, in the case of the combination vaccine.

The nanoparticles, in particular, are injected into patients along with an adjuvant, a chemical that helps boost the immune system, causing the patients to develop antibodies against COVID-19 and Flu.

Essentially, the flu vaccine of Novavax is currently in Phase 3 trials. At a media briefing this week, Filip Dubovsky, chief medical officer of the company said data from the said trials so far exhibit higher antibody responses for patients who have the Novavax vaccine as protection from multiple strains of flu compared to those who were given an approved flu vaccine.

Authorized for Use in Over 40 Countries Worldwide

Data containing the complete efficacy of the vaccine was not presented although the company's chief medical officer highlighted similarly high antibody responses against H3N2 flu strains, against which existing vaccines have low effectiveness.

The COVID-19 vaccine of Novavax has been authorized for use in more than 40 countries globally, which includes the European Union and most recently, Japan.

In January, Novavax applied for authorization with the Food and Drug Administration. Even though the stock has been trending downward as COVID-19 restrictions continue lifting in most places all over the world, Roger Song and Xiangyu Ma, Jefferies analysts wrote in a report that concerns for Novavax's long-term prospects "are overstated" as they're seeing COVID-19 turning "an endemic disease" that requires effective or tolerated regular vaccination.

What Lies Ahead

According to a similar Verified News Explorer News report, the next step for the COVID-Flu combination vaccine will be a "phase 2 clinical trial" which, as announced by Dubovsky, should start by the end of 2022.

That trial will be sought toward the optimization of the right dose for the COVID-19 and Flu antigens, and the right dose for the adjuvant.

After the phase 2 trial succeeds, a phase 3 trial will be scheduled for the flu season, hopefully, next year, although Dubovsky admitted this may rely on what the current COVID-19 situation looks like, as mitigation measures for the virus have slowed down the circulation of flu for the pas couple of years.

Related report about the efficacy of the Novavax vaccine is shown on Bloomberg Markets and Finance's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 and Vaccines in Science Times.