Moderna mRNA flu vaccine outperforms standard shot in Phase 3 trial

Moderna's mRNA-based flu vaccine has demonstrated superior efficacy over traditional flu shots in a Phase 3 clinical trial. Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that the mRNA vaccine reduced influenza illness by approximately 27% more than a standard-dose vaccine. The trial, which enrolled thousands of participants across multiple countries, compared Moderna's candidate to licensed flu vaccines. The company plans to submit the data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is expected to make a decision on approval in August. If authorized, this would be the first mRNA flu vaccine to enter the market, leveraging the same platform technology used in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. The findings mark a significant step in applying mRNA technology to seasonal influenza prevention, potentially offering improved protection and faster adaptation to circulating strains.