In the Covid-19 and influenza combo vaccine race, Pfizer and BioNTech reported a hiccup on Friday with uneven results in a Phase 3 test.
The companies’ Covid-flu vaccine didn’t meet the Phase 3 primary endpoint of non-inferior immunogenicity against influenza, in comparison with people who received separate Covid and flu vaccines. While the combo vaccine elicited a “robust” response against influenza A, it delivered lower geometric mean titers and seroconversion versus influenza B.
The combo vaccine did however meet the other primary endpoint of non-inferior immunogenicity against SARS-CoV-2 versus the companies’ marketed Covid vaccine Comirnaty. The study enrolled more than 8,000 adults aged 18 to 64 years old.
Pfizer’s head of vaccine research Annaliesa Anderson said in a statement that the company is “evaluating next steps” for the combined vaccine. The company has plans to potentially make tweaks to improve how it responds to influenza B and also meet with health authorities. Late last year, CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer was planning to launch the combined vaccine in 2025.
This setback gives Moderna an advantage in the Covid/flu combo vaccine race. In June, Moderna said its combo vaccine succeeded in a Phase 3 trial but in older adults aged 50 and older and has plans to file for approval this summer.
At the Goldman Sachs conference in June, Bourla said that Pfizer also wanted to target younger adults because they are not as likely to get a Covid vaccine compared with older people. A combo approach offers the convenience of getting double protection in a single pharmacy visit with “zero co-pay, nothing out of your money,” he added.
Covid and flu combo vaccines have had notable mentions in deals in recent months. In July, GSK said it will pay CureVac €400 million ($429 million) to license its Covid and flu shots, including potential combination approaches. In May, Sanofi announced it inked a $1.2 billion deal for Novavax’s Covid-19 shot, which it plans to use to develop combination vaccines.