Moderna has begun clinical trials for a novel vaccine that combines a booster dose of COVID-19 with an innovative flu vaccine to defend against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
The US-based pharmaceutical company is confident that the vaccine it is developing as an annual injection against RSV, which causes a variety of respiratory diseases, will be available shortly.
During a recent investor update, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel stated, “We feel there is a really significant potential that is ahead of us if we could provide a very effective pan-respiratory yearly injection.”
“We believe Moderna may be the first to market in this major new opportunity,” he continued.
RSV is a common respiratory infection that infects mild, cold-like symptoms in most people. RSV usually clears up in a week or two, but it can be dangerous, especially in newborns and the elderly.
It is the leading cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the tiny airways in the lung) and pneumonia (lung infection) among infants under the age of one year all over the world.
