A new clinical trial has begun testing an experimental mRNA-based universal flu vaccine — and it could be the key to ending yearly flu shots.
The vaccine, called H1ssF-3928 mRNA-LNP, was developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The goal is to create a vaccine that protects against a wide variety of flu strains, not just the few expected to circulate each year. This trial marks a major step in that direction.
How the Trial Works
The study, now underway at Duke University in North Carolina, is a Phase 1 clinical trial. That means researchers are primarily looking at safety and how well the vaccine triggers an immune response.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Up to 50 healthy adults between ages 18 and 49 will take part.
- Three groups will receive different doses: 10, 25, and 50 micrograms.
- After reviewing early data, researchers will pick the best dose and give it to 10 more participants.
- Another group will receive the standard seasonal flu vaccine for comparison.
- All participants will be monitored for up to a year.
Why We Need a Better Flu Shot
Flu season is unpredictable. Current flu vaccines target just a few strains, based on expert predictions. But if the virus changes — and it often does — the vaccine might not offer strong protection.
According to the CDC, the flu causes between 12,000 and 52,000 deaths each year in the U.S. While seasonal flu shots help, they don’t protect against every type of flu, and they need to be updated annually.
A universal flu vaccine could change all of that. It would:
- Protect against many strains of flu
- Offer long-lasting immunity
- Cut the need for yearly vaccinations
- Help prepare us for future flu pandemics
How This Vaccine Works
This vaccine focuses on a specific part of the flu virus called hemagglutinin (HA) — the protein the virus uses to enter your cells.
Most flu vaccines target the “head” of the HA protein, but that part mutates frequently. This new vaccine instead targets the “stem” of the HA, which doesn’t change much, even as the virus evolves. That could lead to broader and longer-lasting protection.
And here’s the exciting part: it uses mRNA technology, similar to what was used in COVID-19 vaccines. That means it can be made faster and potentially tweaked more easily if needed.
What’s Next?
This trial is the first of its kind to be tested through the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) program, launched by NIAID in 2019. The vaccine was manufactured by the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, part of the CIVICs network.
If successful, this vaccine could move on to larger trials, and eventually change how we fight the flu worldwide.
“A universal flu vaccine would be a major public health achievement,” said Dr. Hugh Auchincloss, Acting Director of NIAID. “It could eliminate the need for yearly shots and offer protection against flu pandemics.”
Source:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05755620
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/vrc-uni-flu-vax
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