New Universal Influenza Vaccine in Development

In partnership with a team of medical centers, universities, and private industries, Emmes, a scientific research company, will support the development of a “universal influenza vaccine” that could provide longer-lasting protection than the current vaccines available, according to a company press release.¹ The vaccine would also combat a wider variety of influenza viruses.

This development is a part of the newly launched Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers (CIVICs) program, which was previously announced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD) in September 2019. The network of research centers involved are working together in a multidisciplinary effort to develop a more durable, broadly protective influenza vaccine.¹

The network will also explore ways to improve seasonal influenza vaccines, such as testing alternative vaccine platforms or incorporating new adjuvants, which are substances added to vaccines to boost immunity, according to NIAD.²

The main goals for each team involve designing statistically sound preclinical experiments and clinical trials, in addition to performing data analyses, making results available across the CIVICs program, and ensuring the data is available in publicly accessible databases, according to the release.¹

Reference

• Emmes will support development of a new universal flu vaccine for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [news release]. Emmes’ website. https://secure.emmes.com/emmesweb/news. Accessed December 2, 2019.
• NIH forms new collaborative influenza vaccine research network [news release]. National Institute of Health’s website. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-forms-new-collaborative-influenza-vaccine-research-network. Accessed December 2, 2019.