08:35 AM EDT, 03/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Moderna ( MRNA ) said Tuesday that its new COVID-19 vaccine candidate mRNA-1283 showed a "higher immune response" in the phase 3 pivotal clinical trial compared with its licensed vaccine Spikevax.

The company said mRNA-1283 will also pave the way for a combination vaccine against flu and COVID-19.

In the phase 3 pivotal trial, Moderna ( MRNA ) said mRNA-1283 induced a stronger response against the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and original virus strains of COVID-19 compared with Spikevax.

"Importantly, this benefit was most acutely seen in participants over the age of 65 years, the population that remains at highest risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19," the company said.

Moderna ( MRNA ) shares were up 1.1% in recent premarket activity.

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