Moderna targets COVID-19 with new combined vaccine candidate planned as annual booster
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Ahead of its Annual Vaccines Day this week, Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) introduced a combination respiratory vaccine candidate called mRNA-1230.
The company plans to design the candidate as an annual booster targeting SARS-CoV-2 virus, influenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), three of the most significant viruses causing respiratory disease in older adults, according to the company.

In addition, the COVID-19 vaccine maker announced a new vaccine candidate against the four endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs), identified as HCoV-229E, -NL63, -OC43, and -HKU1.
While HCoVs are not as widely known as other coronaviruses, they are a major cause of respiratory disease across the world, Moderna (MRNA) said, adding that HCoV-229E, -NL63, -OC43, and -HKU1 are responsible for nearly 10% â 30% of upper respiratory tract infections in adults. 
With its Q4 2021 results, Moderna (MRNA) introduced a bivalent booster candidate called mRNA-1273.214 which combines a Omicron-specific booster shot with its well-known COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1273.