Biotech firm Moderna said Thursday it will begin developing a vaccine for the influenza season.
“We are announcing that we are increasing our investment in vaccines and we will develop a seasonal flu vaccine given the unmet need for highly effective vaccines,” CEO Stephane Bancel said in a press release.
Influenza has resulted in 9 million to 45 million illnesses annually since 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moderna noted that vaccines generally reduce the risk of getting influenza by 40% to 60% compared with people who aren’t inoculated.
