PFE Pfizer Inc

By Will Feuer

Pfizer Inc. said it has dosed the first participants in its new Phase 3 study to evaluate its modified RNA vaccine candidate for influenza.

The late-stage study will test the shot's efficacy, safety, tolerability and immunogenicity in about 25,000 healthy U.S. adults, Pfizer said.

"For years, there has been a need to better address the burden of influenza, despite the use of existing seasonal flu vaccines," said Annaliesa Anderson, chief scientific officer of vaccine research and development for Pfizer.

Pfizer said the flexibility of mRNA technology and its rapid manufacturing could allow better influenza vaccine strain matches in future years. Influenza causes 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations, 12,000 to 52,000 deaths and about $25 billion in economic loss in the U.S. annually, Pfizer said.

Write to Will Feuer at Will.Feuer@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 14, 2022 07:11 ET (11:11 GMT)

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