Moderna said early phase 3 results from its experimental mRNA flu vaccine suggest it may offer better protection than a standard seasonal shot for older adults. The company said the investigational vaccine, mRNA-1010, reduced symptomatic influenza by 28% in people age 65 and above compared with a licensed quadrivalent vaccine.

The interim findings are being closely watched because older adults face a higher risk of serious flu complications, hospitalizations, and death. If confirmed in full trial results, the data could mark a significant step toward next-generation flu vaccines that are easier to update and potentially more effective than current options.

The announcement is still preliminary, and the broader safety and efficacy profile will need to be assessed once the study is completed and peer-reviewed. As with any vaccine trial, regulators and public health officials will look for full datasets before drawing conclusions about how the shot should be used in the real world.

Moderna’s progress comes as drugmakers continue to pursue mRNA technology beyond COVID-19, aiming to apply it to seasonal influenza and other infectious diseases. For now, the company’s early readout offers an encouraging signal, but it remains an interim result rather than a final verdict.