Shares of Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) and its German partner BioNTech rose after the two companies announced positive results from a Phase 1/2 study evaluating their combination vaccine candidates for COVID-19 and influenza.
The company said its vaccine candidates, which were compared to a licensed influenza vaccine and their Omicron COVID vaccine, demonstrated robust immune responses to influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2 strains.
A Phase 3 trial evaluating the candidates is expected to be initiated in the coming months.
“This vaccine has the potential to lessen the impact of two respiratory diseases with a single injection and may simplify immunization practices for providers, patients, and healthcare systems all over the world,” Pfizer Senior Vice President and Head, Vaccine Research and Development Dr. Annaliesa Anderson said.
Pfizer shares added 1.5% at US$31.18 on the news, while BioNTech gained 1.9% at about US$97.
Drugmakers Moderna Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) are also developing combination vaccines targeting influenza and COVID.
Earlier this month, Moderna released positive data from its own Phase 1/2 trial of its combination vaccine mRNA-1083.
It has commenced dosing in its Phase 3 trial evaluating the vaccine in about 8,000 adults in the Nothern Hemisphere, it announced on October 24.
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