Influenza causes seasonal epidemics that sicken millions each year and occasional pandemics when new strains emerge. Current treatment includes annual vaccines and antiviral drugs like oseltamivir that shorten illness if started early. Most healthy people recover in a week, but flu can be serious for older adults, young children, and people with chronic conditions.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing universal flu vaccines that could protect against multiple strains for years, next-generation antivirals that work against resistant viruses, monoclonal antibodies for high-risk people, and improved vaccines for older adults whose immune systems respond less strongly. Researchers are also studying how to predict which strains will circulate and how to speed vaccine production.
Universal flu vaccines
Several vaccines in trials aim to protect against many flu strains at once by targeting parts of the virus that change less over time. If successful, they could replace the need for annual flu shots.
Long-acting antivirals
New antivirals target different parts of the virus than current drugs and may work as single doses rather than five-day courses. Some are being tested for treatment and prevention.
Pandemic preparedness
Trials are testing vaccines and treatments for flu strains circulating in animals that could jump to humans. The goal is to have tools ready before the next pandemic starts.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on age, underlying health conditions, timing of symptoms, flu vaccination status, and exposure to confirmed cases.
What types of trials are currently open
- Vaccine trials — Testing new flu vaccines, including universal vaccines and improved formulations for older adults or people with weakened immune systems.
- Antiviral treatment trials — Testing new antiviral drugs to see if they shorten illness, prevent complications, or work against resistant flu strains.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether drugs or antibodies can prevent flu in people exposed to the virus or at high risk during outbreaks.
- Pandemic vaccine trials — Testing vaccines against flu strains like H5N1 and H7N9 that could cause future pandemics.
- Epidemiology studies — Following communities during flu season to learn how the virus spreads, who gets sickest, and how well vaccines and treatments work in real-world conditions.
Recently added Influenza trials
A Study on the Efficacy of a Vaccine Against Influenza in Adults ≥65 Years of Age
This study will compare an investigational mRNA flu vaccine with a licensed flu vaccine in adults 65 years of age and older. Participants will receive one injection and will be followed during the flu season. The study will measure prevention of laboratory-confirmed flu illness, side effects, and immune responses.
Study to Assess Safety and Immunogenicity of an Egg-based H5N8 Influenza Vaccine at Multiple Dose Levels Adjuvanted With Matrix-M in Healthy Participants 18 Years of Age and Above.
The study aims to evaluate an egg-based H5N8 influenza vaccine up to 3 dose levels (low, medium, and high dose) given with or without adjuvant to see if the adjuvant improves vaccine effectiveness. The study will enroll healthy adults aged 18 years and over. Participants will receive 2 injections in their arm of either one of the 3 dose levels of the study vaccine (low, medium, or high dose) with the adjuvant or the unadjuvanted vaccine (high dose). Study duration per participant: approximately 14 months (including screening visit).
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