Sept 12 (Askume) – British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSKL.L) on Thursday announced positive results from a mid-stage trial of its seasonal flu vaccine programme using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, saying it would now enter the final stage of clinical development.
GlaxoSmithKline said the data showed that a vaccine candidate generated a positive immune response against influenza A and B strains in younger and older adults compared with existing standard treatments.
In July, GSK acquired its influenza and COVID-19 vaccine development alliance partner, CureVac , strengthening its messenger RNA competency .
GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world’s biggest vaccine makers, plans to expand its vaccine and infectious disease portfolio under Chief Executive Emma Walmsley as it ramps up sales towards the end of the decade, part of a strategy to combat patent expiries and declines.
“GSK continues to develop and optimise its mRNA capabilities through investments and collaborations, including artificial intelligence/machine learning-based sequence optimisation, nanoparticle design and manufacturing,” the company said in a statement.
The trial tested different mRNA formulations in older and younger people to find a vaccine that was more effective at protecting against the flu virus than existing vaccines.
