Universal influenza vaccine candidate reaches human trials

A new, investigational and universal influenza vaccine candidate reached an important milestone this week, beginning its first human trial under the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

That test will examine its safety and tolerability, along with its ability to do what it’s supposed to do: create an immune response. The vaccine is unique in its broadness, but also in how it operates. It essentially teaches the body to create immune responses against various influenza subtypes not be attacking specific elements of those strains, but by focus-firing the immune system at a portion of the virus scientists have determined varies little between strains.

“Seasonal influenza is a perpetual public health challenge, and we continually face the possibility of an influenza pandemic resulting from the emergence and spread of novel influenza viruses,” NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci said. “This Phase 1 clinical trial is a step forward in our efforts to develop a durable and broadly protective universal influenza vaccine.”

The trial is the culmination of years of research by NIAID, and will be held at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Maryland. Led by Grace Chen, researchers will enroll at least 53 healthy adults and be divided into a series of groups receiving different numbers of injections carrying different amounts of the vaccine. Age focuses will play a key role in the research as the groups are divvied up. There is always the possibility effects could vary by age.

The investigation will then continue over a period of up to 15 months. At no point will any participants actually be exposed to any influenza virus. Enrollment is expected to conclude by year’s end and results will begin to report in sometime in early 2020.