Trial of world’s first mRNA vaccine against deadly vomit norovirus begins

Doctors have begun trials of the world’s first mRNA vaccine against norovirus, the deadly vomiting bug, which they hope will bring huge health and economic benefits to the UK. Norovirus is a common but highly contagious virus that causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It has symptoms similar to those of the stomach flu, but with different causes. According to experts, norovirus spreads easily through close contact or contaminated food or surfaces.

Also known as the “winter virus”, the virus is linked to thousands of hospital admissions around the world. The shot, which uses mRNA technology, the same as used in COVID-19 shots, tells the immune system to recognize a “foreign” protein on viruses and mount an attack.

In this case, it targets three strains of norovirus.

Doctors said that although most people recover from the infection within two to three days, the virus is very serious, especially for younger children or the elderly who have an underdeveloped or weakened immune system.

According to Dr Patrick Moore, national chief investigator of the UK trial, to date there are no approved vaccines for norovirus in the world, while people who become seriously ill are simply given fluids intravenously. “The burden of the virus was enormous, with around 685 million cases and 200,000 deaths worldwide each year. In the UK there are thought to be around 4 million cases of norovirus a year, with 12,000 hospitalizations a year in England alone,” he said. the guardian.

New norovirus vaccine trial would last two years

Known as Nova 301: Dr Moore said the Phase 3 clinical trial would last two years and enroll around 25,000 participants, focusing especially on those over 60, from countries around the world including Japan, Canada and Australia . .

Nearly 40 27 NHS primary and secondary care centers across England, Scotland and Wales are taking part in the trial, which began earlier this month. The team is using mobile units to make it easier for people to participate.

The UK arm of the study is part of the 10-year Modern-UK Strategic Partnership and involves a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the NHS. UK Health Security. (UKHSA) and the pharmaceutical company Moderna, which produces the vaccine.

Moderna says it will look at whether the vaccine should be used as a seasonal shot like the flu vaccine, or if it could offer lifelong immunity.

How is norovirus different from the stomach flu?

According to experts, there are various strains of norovirus – in the Caliciviridae family that cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Norovirus outbreaks occur most frequently between November and April in countries above the equator and between April and September in countries below the equator. Some symptoms include: