NovavaxIt announced Wednesday that its flu vaccine, which targets Covid-19 and influenza, triggered an immune response comparable to the stand-alone shots. This early indicator suggests that both vaccines may be equally effective. More research is needed.

Filip Dubovsky is the chief medical officer of the company. He said that a clinical trial in the early phases of Covid found that 25 micrograms (or more) of Covid and up to 35 milligrams of flu formulas triggered promising levels of protective antibodies.

Dubovsky stated that the study showed the ability to obtain immune responses comparable to those of individual vaccines.

The median age for participants in phase 1 was 59, and they all had received Covid vaccinations. Novavax presented the data on Wednesday at the World Vaccine Congress.

Novavax intends to continue with the phase 2 trial in this year’s flu season to establish the correct dosing levels. Then, Dubovsky announced that a phase 3 trial will be launched on the efficacy of Novavax during the early part of 2023.

Experts in public health expect Covidit will become a seasonal respiratory illness similar to the flu. It is likely that annual vaccinations are required because immunity to shots decreases with time. In order to help people protect themselves from both the flu and Covid viruses, vaccine companies are racing to produce combination shots to target them.

Dubovsky stated that combination vaccines were a popular public health intervention. By giving only one vaccine, you are able to target two of the most serious diseases that can be fatal in your body.

Novavax was an early participant of the 2020 U.S. government race to create Covid shots. However, there is currently no approved vaccine for the disease in the United States. Novavax asked for authorization by the Food and Drug Administration in January to develop its Covid vaccine. Dubovsky said Wednesday to reporters that Novavax’s request is being still reviewed by FDA.

Novavax’s Covid vaccine is a completely different product. PfizerThe s are ModernaMessenger RNA is used to convert human cells into virus factories. These viruses then produce copies of spike proteins, which induces an immune reaction that combats Covid. The virus’ spike attaches to and invades cells.

Novavax’s vaccines, however, can fully synthesize virus spikes outside of the human body. Infecting insect cells with the genetic code of the virus spike, a Baculovirus infects them. The spike then becomes purified and extracted from their cells. To incite an immune reaction against the virus, the spike copy is injectable into humans. It can’t reproduce or cause Covid.

To induce an increased immune response, the vaccine uses an adjuvant. This is an extract from South American trees’ bark. This adjuvant is approved to be used in licensed vaccines for shingles and against malaria. Novavax’s Covid shots stand-alone contain 50 micrograms adjuvant and 5 micrograms spike copy.

Novavax employs the same technology to develop its flu vaccine candidate. It targets four strains.

Although the Covid dosage in combination vaccine may be higher than that of stand-alone shots, Dubovsky stated it is within FDA’s range. Other FDA-licensed Covid vaccinations have dosing levels of 50 to 100 micrograms.

Dubovsky confirmed that the combination vaccine trial’s 25-microgram formula was easily tolerated and is safe. Dubovsky stated that the injection site pains, fatigue, headaches and nausea were the most common side effects.