New mRNA flu vaccine shows promise in first human trial

NCT ID NCT06125691

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-stage trial tested a new type of flu vaccine called ARCT-2138, which uses self-amplifying mRNA technology to potentially provide stronger and longer-lasting protection. The study involved 139 healthy adults aged 18-49 and 65-85, who received either the experimental vaccine or a licensed flu shot. Researchers monitored safety, side effects, and immune responses to determine the best dose for future studies.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Self-amplifying mRNA seasonal influenza vaccine (ARCT-2138)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could lead to a more effective and longer-lasting seasonal flu vaccine using self-amplifying mRNA technology.
What could go wrong
This is an early Phase 1 trial with only 139 participants, so safety and immune response are still being tested. It may not work as well as existing vaccines or could have unexpected side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 1

The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.

Participants

139 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jan 2024

Finished

Jan 2025

Lead sponsor

A company

The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 85 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals are male, female, or transgender adults 18 to 49 years of age or 65 to 85 years of age. 2. Healthy participants or participants with pre-existing stable medical conditions. Pre-existing stable medical condition means a subject who: has full capacity of daily activity and no major medication modification; has not undergone surgical or minimally invasive intervention or had any hospitalization/emergency room visit for the specific medical condition within 3 months prior to Day 1. 3. Participant or legally authorized representatives must freely provide documented informed consent prior to study procedures being performed. 4. Individuals who have not received influenza vaccine within 6 months prior to enrollment. 5. Individuals must agree to comply with all study visits and procedures (including blood tests, nasopharyngeal swabs, diary completion, receipt of telephone calls from the site, willingness to be available for Unscheduled Clinic Visits). 6. Individuals of childbearing potential must be willing to adhere to contraceptive requirements. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals with acute medical illness or febrile illness, including body temperature \>100.4°F (\>38.0°C) within 3 days prior to Randomization. These individuals may be offered the opportunity to enter the study after fever and illness has stabilized. Participants with suspected or confirmed influenza should be excluded and referred for medical care. Rescreening will be permitted for individuals who are presented with suspected influenza if another diagnosis is confirmed. 2. Individuals with any medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, could place the participant at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the participant unable to comply with all study procedures and achieve successful completion of the trial. 3. Individuals with a known history of severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, or other significant adverse reactions to any mRNA vaccine, influenza vaccine, or excipients. 4. Individuals who have a positive pregnancy test at the Screening visit or Day 1 or who intend to become pregnant or breastfeed during the study. 5. Individuals with a history of myocarditis, pericarditis, myopericarditis or cardiomyopathy. 6. Individuals with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome, encephalomyelitis, or transverse myelitis. 7. Individuals with a known bleeding disorder that would, in the opinion of the investigator, contraindicate intramuscular (I.M.) injection. 8. Individuals with a history of congenital or acquired immunodeficiency. 9. Individuals who have received immunomodulatory, immunostimulatory, or immunosuppressant drugs including interferon and cytotoxic drugs within 3 months of Screening/Day 1 or who plan to receive them during the study. 10. Individuals requiring systemic corticosteroids exceeding 10 mg/day of prednisone equivalent for ≥10 days within 30 days of Screening. The use of topical, ophthalmic, inhaled, and intranasal steroid preparations will be permitted. 11. Individuals who have received immunoglobulins and/or any blood or blood products within the 3 months before the first vaccine administration or plan to receive such products at any time during the study. 12. Individuals with an immunosuppressive or immunodeficient state, asplenia, or recurrent severe infections. 13. Individuals with a documented history of chronic infection including HIV, HBV, HCV, or who are currently known to have active tuberculosis. 14. Individuals with chronic illness that, in the opinion of the Investigator, are at a stage where it might interfere with trial participation or interpretation of study results. 15. Individuals receiving treatment with another investigational drug, biological agent, or device within 28 days of screening, or 5 half-lives of the investigational drug, whichever is longer; or are currently enrolled in or plan to participate in another clinical trial with an investigational agent during the study period. 16. Individuals who received any influenza vaccine within 6 months prior to enrollment. Individuals who plan to receive an influenza vaccine during the study period\*. 17. Individuals who have received any other licensed vaccines within 14 days prior to enrollment in this study or who are planning to receive any vaccine up to 14 days after the study vaccination. 18. Individuals who are investigator site staff members, employees of the Sponsor or the Clinical Research Organization directly involved in the conduct of the study, or site staff members otherwise supervised by the investigator or immediate family members of any of the previously mentioned individuals. * Participants in the older adult group (Part 3) are allowed, following their Day 29 visit, to receive the authorized influenza vaccine as per country-specific recommendations.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Emeritus Research Camberwell

    Melbourne, Victoria, 3124, Australia

  • Nucleus Network Brisbane Clinic

    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.