The clinical trial for a vaccine that covers both COVID-19 and influenza has begun, Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Thursday.
The first participant in the phase 1 trial, which is being conducted in the United States with 180 participants between the ages of 18 and 64, received their dose this week, according to the companies. Each participant will receive six months of follow-up.
The CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, Dr. Ugur Sahin, stated, “By combining both indications in a single vaccine approach, we aim to provide individuals with an efficient way to receive immunization against two severe respiratory diseases with evolving viruses that require vaccine adaptation.”
The combination vaccine is based on a quadrivalent mRNA flu vaccine, intended to protect against four different flu viruses, and the bivalent COVID-19 booster currently on the market.
