News stories

A new seasonal influenza vaccine has been approved in the United States following a large international clinical trial involving researchers at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB).

The vaccine, known as mFLUSIVA and developed by Moderna, is designed to protect adults ages 50 years and older against seasonal flu. It is the first mRNA-based flu vaccine, using technology similar to that used in the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine based on the results of the FLUENT trial, involving more than 40,000 adults aged 50 years and older across 11 countries. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either mFLUSIVA or a standard-dose of another currently licensed flu vaccine.

The trial found that mFLUSIVA was more effective at preventing influenza-like illness.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) was one of over 300 sites worldwide involved in the trial, with volunteers recruited via the NIHR/ Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility Birmingham (CRF).

Professor Christopher Green, Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases and General Medicine at QEHB, said: “This is a great result. This new mRNA vaccine has outperformed the current licensed vaccine for seasonal influenza (flu) that causes a huge burden of disease across the world.

“This is also part of an exciting post-COVID chapter in vaccine science, as we redirect technologies that were first rapidly developed to safely end the pandemic towards other major global health needs.”

The use of mRNA technology could offer advantages in how quickly flu vaccines can be developed and produced. Unlike traditional egg-based flu vaccines, mRNA vaccines can be produced more quickly, potentially allowing vaccines to be updated more rapidly in response to circulating influenza strains.

Chris added: “UHB continues to play its part, and later this year we plan to open a new trial using mRNA vaccine technology, with the aim of protecting people from two seasonal viruses in a single jab.

“As ever, our thanks go to the public who trust us to volunteer and take part in clinical trials, and who share our ambition for positive change through research and innovation.”

Experts have advised that whilst mFLUSIVA provides another option protecting seasonal influenza, it should not replace all existing flu vaccines.

The vaccine has been accepted for regulatory review in the European Union, Taiwan, Canada and Australia, with further regulatory submissions planned in 2026 and 2027.

mFLUSIVA is not currently approved for use in the UK.