Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/06/news-scan-jun-24-2021
News Scan for Jun 24, 2021
Low global flu levels; mRNA flu vaccine trial
Filed Under:
Influenza, General; Influenza Vaccines
Little flu circulating globally; most is influenza B
Only a few countries reported sporadic flu detection, mostly involving influenza B, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest global flu update, which covers the end of May and the first week of June.
Flu in the Southern Hemisphere's temperate zones stayed at interseasonal levels, and patterns in Northern Hemisphere temperate areas remained below baseline, though detections of influenza B rose slightly, especially in China.
A few flu positives were reported in western and eastern Africa, as well as in South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and India.
Of the samples tested at national flu labs, 92.8% were influenza B, nearly all of it the Victoria lineage. Of subtyped influenza A viruses, 55.8% were 2009 H1N1 and 44.2% were H3N2.
The WHO included its usual caveats that flu surveillance and patterns are likely affected by COVID-19 measures and testing priorities.
Jun 21 WHO global flu update
Sanofi, Translate Bio launch mRNA flu vaccine trial
Sanofi Pasteur and Translate Bio, an mRNA therapeutics company based in Massachusetts, this week announced the launch of a phase 1 study of an mRNA monovalent influenza vaccine targeting H3N2.
In a press release, Sanofi said the US-based study will enroll up to 280 adults ages 18 to 49 and will assess the safety and immunogenicity of different doses and different lipid nanoparticle formulations. The company said H3N2 seasons tend to be more severe, especially in at-risk groups.
Jean-François Toussaint, MBA, PhD, head of global research and development at Sanofi Pasteur, said the world has witnessed the promise of mRNA vaccines during the COVID pandemic, and the companies hope to extend the potential to certain annual vaccines.
Also, Ronald Renaud, MBA, Translate Bio's CEO, said mRNA vaccine could have several advantages for battling seasonal flu, including prompting a robust immune response, enabling antigen specificity within a short timeframe from vaccine strain selection, and agile manufacturing capacity.
Jun 22 Sanofi Pasteur press release
News Scan for Jun 24, 2021
Low global flu levels; mRNA flu vaccine trial
Filed Under:
Influenza, General; Influenza Vaccines
Little flu circulating globally; most is influenza B
Only a few countries reported sporadic flu detection, mostly involving influenza B, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest global flu update, which covers the end of May and the first week of June.
Flu in the Southern Hemisphere's temperate zones stayed at interseasonal levels, and patterns in Northern Hemisphere temperate areas remained below baseline, though detections of influenza B rose slightly, especially in China.
A few flu positives were reported in western and eastern Africa, as well as in South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and India.
Of the samples tested at national flu labs, 92.8% were influenza B, nearly all of it the Victoria lineage. Of subtyped influenza A viruses, 55.8% were 2009 H1N1 and 44.2% were H3N2.
The WHO included its usual caveats that flu surveillance and patterns are likely affected by COVID-19 measures and testing priorities.
Jun 21 WHO global flu update
Sanofi, Translate Bio launch mRNA flu vaccine trial
Sanofi Pasteur and Translate Bio, an mRNA therapeutics company based in Massachusetts, this week announced the launch of a phase 1 study of an mRNA monovalent influenza vaccine targeting H3N2.
In a press release, Sanofi said the US-based study will enroll up to 280 adults ages 18 to 49 and will assess the safety and immunogenicity of different doses and different lipid nanoparticle formulations. The company said H3N2 seasons tend to be more severe, especially in at-risk groups.
Jean-François Toussaint, MBA, PhD, head of global research and development at Sanofi Pasteur, said the world has witnessed the promise of mRNA vaccines during the COVID pandemic, and the companies hope to extend the potential to certain annual vaccines.
Also, Ronald Renaud, MBA, Translate Bio's CEO, said mRNA vaccine could have several advantages for battling seasonal flu, including prompting a robust immune response, enabling antigen specificity within a short timeframe from vaccine strain selection, and agile manufacturing capacity.
Jun 22 Sanofi Pasteur press release