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COVID-19 + Seasonal Influenza

COVID-Influenza combination (CIC) investigational vaccine

COVID-19 + seasonal influenza Vaccine Details
Therapeutic area
Infectious disease
Status
Technology
Respiratory diseases
COVID-19 + seasonal influenza
 
Phase 2
Matrix-M™ adjuvant
Therapeutic area
Respiratory diseases
Infectious disease
COVID-19 + seasonal influenza
Status
 
Phase 2
Technology
Matrix-M™ adjuvant

About the candidate

The Novavax COVID-Influenza combination investigational vaccine uses the full-length, stabilized recombinant spike (rS) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and 4 wild-type recombinant Hemagglutinin (rHA) proteins from the influenza virus, as antigens. Antigens are organized into distinct nanoparticle complexes recognized by the immune system, working in concert with our Matrix-M™ adjuvant.1

COVID-Influenza Combination (CIC) Investigational Vaccine Design
1
Genes inserted into insect baculovirus

SARS-CoV-2 spike and four Influenza Hemagglutinin (HA) genes (H1, H3, B-Y, B-V) are engineered into baculovirus for independent expression.


PDB IDs: 1NNB, 4O5N

H1: Influenza A (H1N1) 
B-Y: Influenza B Yamagata lineage
H3: Influenza A (H3N2) 
B-V: Influenza B Victoria lineage
Genes inserted into insect baculovirus. Baculovirus. SARS-CoV-2. Spike protein trimer. Spike gene. HA protein. Influenza. Viral RNA.
2
Sf9 cells infected

Recombinant baculovirus infects moth cells in the S. frugiperda (Sf9) expression system.

Sf9 cells infected. Baculovirus. SF9 Cell.
3
DNA enters Sf9 cell nucleus

Spike or HA DNA is transcribed.

DNA enters Sf9 cell nucleus. DNA. Nucleus. mRNA.
4
Sf9 cells produce proteins

Proteins are each expressed in their native conformation.

Sf9 cells produce proteins. mRNA. Translation and maturation. Protein trimers.
5
Nanoparticle formation

Proteins are harvested. Vaccine nanoparticles assemble as proteins arranged around a Polysorbate 80 (PS80) core.

Nanoparticle formation. PS80 core.
6
Final vaccine

Spike and HA vaccine nanoparticles are mixed with Matrix-M™ adjuvant to create the ready-to-use vaccine.

Final vaccine. HA vaccine nanoparticles. Matrix-M adjuvant. Spike vaccine nanoparticle. H1. H3. B-Y. B-V

Infographic displaying the COVID-Influenza combination (CIC) investigational vaccine

Why it matters

Combination vaccines reduce the number of shots required to help protect against multiple diseases.. Simplifying immunizations into fewer shots may make it more likely that people get recommended vaccinations on time, reducing delays in protection.2, 3 As both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 continue to circulate and evolve, combining these vaccines into a single shot could offer protection against both diseases. We believe that COVID-19 may become endemic and therefore may require seasonal vaccination, similar to the influenza vaccine.

  1. Massare, et al. Pre-Print. Available at:https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.05.442782v1 [Accessed 25 Jan 2023].
  2. US CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/why-vaccinate/combination-vaccines.html [Accessed 27 Aug 2021].
  3. Skibinski D, et al. Glob Infect Dis. 2011;3(1):63–72. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21572611/ [Accessed 4 Jan 2022].
Clinical trials