A researcher works on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in the laboratory of the Moderna Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Adam Glanzman | Bloomberg | Getty pictures
Norovirus rages in the USA this winter. Modern Could soon have a vaccine for it.
A large phase trial study of the shot is in progress, whereby the results are expected as quickly as later this year or 2026. Moderna must see a certain number of cases before you can analyze and determine how well the vaccine works and put the timeline into the staging in the staging in the data. Flow. The 25,000-person study is enrolled prematurely, said Doran Fink, the clinical therapeutic area of Moderna for gastrointestinal and bacterial pathogens.
“I do not know whether it is directly due to the increased incidence of Norovirus this season, but we are clearly very interested in participating in this attempt,” said Fink.
Norovirus is an evil stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhea. It is very contagious and can spread easily in nursing homes and Daycare centers and on cruise ships. It is generally a seasonal illness that occurs more often in the winter months.
This winter was particularly brutal. According to the centers for the control and prevention of diseases, twice as many Norovirus tests in January are positive in January as last year. According to CDC, Norovirus's outbreaks have so far increased by 36%this season.
There is currently no vaccine for Norovirus. Like flu, there are many types of Norovirus, which, on the other hand, is a challenge.
The Moderna vaccine candidate aims at the three genotypes that the company says that this usually causes most infections. It works by showing the immune system something that looks like Norovirus but is not contagious so that the body can learn how to defend yourself when the real thing hits.
The company's vaccine candidate does not contain the genotype that causes the majority of this year's infections. One of the goals of the study can be seen whether the vaccine protects against more types of Norovirus than the shot that specifically aimed, said Fink. He said MRNA vaccines offer an advantage because they can be easily optimized if necessary.
Moderna's goal is not to prevent people from getting Norovirus completely. This is a high bar for a vaccine that is particularly difficult to reach with Norovirus, since the symptoms start within 12 to 24 hours after exposure, said Fink. Instead, the goal is to feel a little less terrible and prevent them from seeking a doctor or going to the hospital when they get him.
The company sees the main option in the vaccination of seniors who are particularly susceptible to Norovirus complications such as dehydration. According to the CDC, people 65 and up die the majority of the estimated 900 Americans who die from Norovirus complications in the USA.
Moderna also sees health workers, daycare centers and other teachers who are exposed to possible target populations with young children. People who go on cruises are another option, he said, since the virus can easily spread to ships on which people live in close quarters.
Investors wonder whether Moderna can make the shot a commercially sustainable chance – if the vaccines, of course, said the RBC analyst Luca Issi. He sees how the shot is mostly used to protect people who live in nursing homes or go on cruises.
At this point, Moderna does not test the vaccine in children who are also susceptible to Norovirus. But if the shot works in adults, Moderna would be obliged to study it in children, said Doran.
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