Latest news with #H1N1
Medscape
4 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Could One Shot Replace Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines?
A novel multicomponent messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, mRNA-1083, demonstrated noninferiority to standard influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in adults aged 50 years or older, eliciting higher immune responses against most influenza strains (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata) and SARS-CoV-2 ( Omicron XBB.1.5), according to a pivotal phase 3 study. METHODOLOGY: The mRNA-1083 is an investigational, multicomponent vaccine that combines the components of a hemagglutinin-based influenza vaccine (mRNA-1010) and a second-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine encoding the spike glycoprotein's N-terminal and receptor-binding domains. Researchers present interim findings of a phase 3 trial that assessed the immunogenicity and safety of this vaccine in adults aged 50 years or older across the United States, enrolling participants between October 19, 2023, and November 21, 2023. They randomly assigned 8061 participants to receive either the mRNA-1083 vaccine plus placebo or the active comparator vaccines for seasonal influenza or COVID-19. Participants were stratified into those older than 65 years (n = 4017; 54.2% women) and those aged 50-64 years (n = 3998; 58.8% women). The primary objective was to demonstrate the noninferiority of humoral immune responses — measured by antibody levels — to mRNA-1083 vs active influenza and COVID-19 vaccines against vaccine-matched strains, 29 days post-vaccination. TAKEAWAY: The mRNA-1083 vaccine demonstrated noninferiority to the active comparator vaccines against the four influenza strains and SARS-CoV-2 in both age groups, as determined by a 97.5% CI lower bound greater than 0.667 for the geometric mean ratio and more than −10% for the seroconversion rate difference. In adults aged 50-64 years, mRNA-1083 elicited superior immune responses to all four influenza strains relative to the active comparator influenza vaccines, whereas in adults aged 65 years or older, superiority was observed for three strains (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B/Victoria). Most local and systemic adverse reactions were grade 1 or 2 across vaccine groups. Grade 4 adverse reactions, all of which were systemic events (fever), were reported by two participants in each age group. In both age groups, no severe or serious adverse events or adverse events of special interest were deemed vaccination-related. No deaths or cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were reported. IN PRACTICE: 'As such, an annual vaccination campaign with a multicomponent vaccine could occur during the seasonal period when the burden of respiratory hospitalizations is the greatest, while allowing for a standalone COVID-19 vaccine option for additional doses or if the vaccine is updated in the interim should any antigenically divergent strain emerge,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Amanda K. Rudman Spergel, MD, Moderna Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was published online on May 7, 2025, in JAMA . LIMITATIONS: The efficacy of mRNA-1083 was not established in the study and requires further investigation. Although the diversity of the study population mirrored that of the general US population, the results may not be generalizable to other geographic areas. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by Moderna, Inc. Many authors were employees of Moderna and may hold stock or stock options.
Business Upturn
10 hours ago
- Health
- Business Upturn
Panacea Biotec's EmulsiPan listed in CEPI Adjuvant Library to support vaccine development
Panacea Biotec Limited has announced the inclusion of its adjuvant, EmulsiPan, in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Library of adjuvants. This listing aims to support researchers and developers working on vaccines and biotherapeutics. EmulsiPan is an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant created through the nano-emulsification of squalene, surfactants, and buffers. Squalene is a naturally occurring biodegradable and biocompatible triterpene hydrocarbon found in plants and humans. EmulsiPan is supplied as a ready-to-use sterile emulsion in 10 mL USP Type I glass vials, intended for research purposes. It is stable for over two years when stored between 2-8°C. The global market for adjuvants is projected to exceed $4.8 billion by 2028, driven by applications in vaccines and biological therapies, including oncology. Oil-in-water emulsion adjuvants, such as EmulsiPan, are commonly used in commercial vaccines, including influenza vaccines. EmulsiPan's availability without licensing fees provides an accessible option for vaccine developers. EmulsiPan has been used in various preclinical studies and collaborative research projects. Notably, it was applied in non-human primate challenge studies for Sarbecoronavirus vaccine candidates at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and in Betacoronavirus vaccine development programs in partnership with BRIC-Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), funded by CEPI. These studies demonstrate its adaptability and effectiveness in vaccine research. Developed in 2009 and first commercialized as part of Panacea Biotec's H1N1 vaccine, PandyFlu, EmulsiPan has since become a platform adjuvant for multiple vaccine candidates. Panacea Biotec established a cGMP manufacturing facility for EmulsiPan, ensuring consistent quality and regulatory compliance. The inclusion of EmulsiPan in the CEPI Adjuvant Library confirms it has undergone scientific evaluation and meets standards necessary to support human vaccine development. This listing is expected to increase access for researchers and companies interested in using EmulsiPan for commercial or research applications. By offering a stable, ready-to-use formulation and removing licensing fees, Panacea Biotec aims to facilitate equitable access to vaccine adjuvants and contribute to global preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Uptick in Covid cases, symptoms mostly mild
Pune: Several city hospitals are of late reporting an uptick in Covid-19 patients, most with mild symptoms. Dr Piyush Chaudhary, an infectious disease specialist at Jehangir Hospital, confirmed the uptick in cases. "The number of cases being detected is definitely increasing, but predominantly they are milder. Only patients who are elderly or have comorbidities with multiple medical problems are experiencing severe disease," he said. The hospital currently has two Covid patients in the ICU, both elderly individuals aged 75-80 years with multiple underlying health conditions. Healthcare professionals are observing a growing demand for precautionary vaccine doses amid increase in Covid cases. Reasons: Patients' immunity from last shots in 2022 has begun to wane and current variants differ from those the earlier vaccines were designed to combat. Most new cases are being attributed to the Omicron sub-variant JN.1. Other strains, including NB 1.8.1 and LF.7, are also under observation, according to recent reports. Dr Chaudhary said, "The increase in Covid cases has been noticeable over the last two weeks, with more cases appearing this week. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eternia Spacious 3 & 4 BHK Residences for Grand Living Eternia Residences Learn More Undo It's gradually increasing." He attributed part of the rise in detected cases to increased testing. "Now that Covid is everywhere in the news, people are testing more," Dr Chaudhary said. "While there is increased interest from patients regarding vaccination, Covid vaccines are currently not available in the market. The vaccines we previously administered offer some protection against severe disease, though they were formulated for earlier variants. An updated vaccine would help boost antibody response and provide enhanced protection against current strains," he said. Dr Ameet Dravid, an infectious diseases expert with Noble Hospital, said, "There's a definite uptick in Covid cases. This week we've had around six cases, with the majority seen in the outpatient department. Two patients are currently admitted in the ICU." He said, "One is 25-year-old, who developed seizures after having fever for two days and tested positive for Covid. The second is a 70-year-old woman, who came with breathlessness. We initially thought it was heart-related, but her Covid test also came positive. Both ICU patients are recovering." Dr Dravid, "Swab samples of the patients have gone to NIV, and only those confirmed by it will be part of government Covid data statistics. The actual number of cases is likely to be much higher because private labs are testing but government reporting only includes NIV-confirmed samples." He said there had been an uptick in upper respiratory tract illnesses, with some turning out to be Covid. The majority were H1N1 or swine flu, though. Dr Ajit Tambolkar, intensivist at Poona Hospital, said, "We have a Covid patient, a 70-year-old diabetic man, in the isolation ward. He doesn't require ICU care. Another was discharged recently — a young girl with no comorbidities but had recent travel history. She has been discharged. The 70-year-old man initially needed oxygen, which was stopped on Friday. These cases came in the last seven days. We had no Covid cases before that. Symptoms are mild — cough, cold, fever and flu-like symptoms. We suggest people seek medical intervention if their symptoms last for more than three days." Dr Nikhil Phadke, founder-director and chief science officer of GenePath Diagnostics, said "We have started seeing Covid positives again after a long time in the past 10 days. But the uptick doesn't seem dramatic so far." A senior state health department official said, "No Covid vaccine is available currently because manufacturing stopped due to reduced demand in the past. The latest uptick in Covid cases is expected as it's endemic, and we have more H1N1 cases than Covid at present. Vaccination is a preventive policy when infections are on a large scale. According to public health experts, Covid vaccination is not required currently as it is endemic and the number of such cases is within normal parameters. "
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump Administration Cancels $600 Million Contract to Develop Bird Flu Vaccine
The Trump administration has pulled funding for a bird flu vaccine, citing concerns about mRNA technology Moderna, which had been developing the vaccine, said it has shown to generate "a rapid, potent and durable immune response" to the virus Earlier this week, the administration rolled back recommendations for COVID vaccines, which use the same technologyThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has pulled $600 million in funding it had previously promised to pharmaceutical company Moderna to develop a vaccine for bird flu in humans, citing concerns about mRNA technology. The funding had been allocated under President Joe Biden amid the rapid spread of H1N1 — commonly called bird flu. More than 173 million birds have been culled, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Nearly 1,000 herds of cattle have been infected. Per the most recent data, there have been 70 human infections and one death. Scientists have warned that the virus could mutate further and have a more dangerous and widespread impact on human health. The Moderna contract was built on a previous government investment of $175 million last year, according to the New York Times. 'This is not simply about efficacy — it's about safety, integrity, and trust,' HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement, per the Washington Post. 'The reality is that mRNA technology remains under-tested, and we are not going to spend taxpayer dollars repeating the mistakes of the last administration, which concealed legitimate safety concerns from the public.' A rep for Moderna tells PEOPLE in a statement: "While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, Moderna will explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing of the H5 program consistent with the Company's strategic commitment to pandemic preparedness. "Researchers have been exploring mRNA's potential in medicine for over 30 years, leading to the rapid deployment of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines that transformed the course of the pandemic. With more than a billion doses distributed worldwide and an unprecedented amount of real-world safety and efficacy data, the benefits of mRNA vaccination — first for COVID-19 and now for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — are well established." Messenger RNA, or mRNA technology, made headlines when it was used for Moderna and Pfizer's vaccines against the virus that causes COVID-19 during the pandemic. According to the National Library of Medicine, mRNA technology was 'decades in development as a therapy for cancer and for prevention of infectious diseases.' Whereas traditional vaccines introduce a weakened or dead virus into your immune system, which then prompts your immune system to produce antibodies to fight the virus, mRNA teaches your body to make a 'small part' of the virus, generally a protein, the Cleveland Clinic explains. Your body fights that protein, thereby having the tools to recognize it and kill it in the case you're infected with the actual virus. Results from Moderna's bird flu vaccine research were positive and generated 'a rapid, potent and durable immune response,' the company said in a statement. Earlier this week, HHS head Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, announced they were rolling back Covid vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and children amid health experts citing research showing pregnant women who were sickened with Covid faced worse outcomes. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Living in the Covid shadow
India now has 1,010 active Covid-19 cases nationwide, with Delhi reporting 104 cases as new variants circulate across the country. Similar upticks are emerging across Asia. Yet health authorities, both in India and elsewhere, are responding with routine preparedness rather than emergency mobilisation — an approach that signals how far we've come from pandemic-era thinking. The current wave represents exactly what endemic respiratory viruses do — circulate, evolve, and surge periodically without triggering a health-system collapse. These variants show no evidence of increased severity, with symptoms resembling common viral illnesses. The upticks stem from waning immunity and normal viral evolution, not fundamentally dangerous new properties. Encouragingly, the evolution has involved only offshoots of the Omicron variant that first emerged in late 2021 and brought on the pandemic's end. Omicron proved fittest to spread, edging out deadlier variants like Delta and Alpha, but crucially lacked their severe lung-damaging properties. Respiratory illnesses claim thousands of lives every year through their natural seasonal patterns. Influenza viruses — including H1N1 and H3N2 — regularly surge in deadly waves, like the severe H1N1 season that struck in 2017, nearly a decade after the strain first emerged in 2009. Sars-CoV-2 could theoretically follow this same cyclical path of periodic severe seasons. But it has not yet. India's proportionate response offers the clearest evidence of this epidemiological shift. Despite facing devastating Covid waves during the pandemic, authorities now treat variant detection with vigilance while emphasising standard hospital preparedness and reassuring the public that current symptoms mirror routine respiratory infections. The key metric isn't case numbers but health system impact — and current data shows mild illness without significant hospitalisation spikes. These periodic surges will become routine, much like accepting that some flu seasons hit harder than others without declaring emergencies. Yet vigilance remains essential. The spring 2021 Delta surge, which Indian surveillance initially missed, led to tens of thousands of fatalities. The balance India now strikes —maintaining robust surveillance while avoiding overreaction — is sensible and must trickle down in how we react to the disease. Treating every variant that emerges as a potential catastrophe will exhaust public health resources and credibility. Covid has joined the roster of manageable endemic respiratory viruses. Our responses must reflect that reality, learning from past failures without surrendering to pandemic-era alarm.
