A new mRNA vaccine against the H5N1 virus has shown promising results in preventing severe disease and death in animal models, potentially offering a rapid response to future influenza pandemics.
Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an experimental mRNA vaccine against avian influenzaH5N1. The vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death in preclinical models and could help manage the current H5N1 outbreaks in birds and cattle in the United States and prevent its transmission to humans.
“Before 2020, experts thought the influenza virus posed the greatest risk of causing a pandemic, and we had limited options for creating a vaccine if that had happened,” said Weissman.