Norovirus is on the rise again. However, it might be time that all your suffering from that particular virus came to an end. Because a Norovirus vaccine is on the horizon, and a well-known American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company
Moderna has taken the lead.
As per the data and statistics shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this winter has been especially brutal. Twice as many Norovirus tests are coming back positive this January than the same time last year. According to the CDC, Norovirus outbreaks were up 36% so far this season as of December 11.
Last month, preliminary data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) showed that Norovirus infections are being reported nationwide at rates higher than the five-year average from 2019 to 2023. And an Ontario public health official recently confirmed that Norovirus was detected in a group of 190 people at the University of Guelph who reported symptoms of gastroenteritis over the past week.
There’s currently no vaccine for Norovirus. Like flu, there are many types of Norovirus, making immunizing against it a challenge. But, as cases of the dreaded Norovirus surge across Canada and the United States, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon, researchers are making strides toward developing a vaccine for the stomach virus.
The glimmer of hope!
The American pharmaceutical company Moderna is developing an mRNA-based vaccine candidate for Norovirus, designated as mRNA-1403. The company said in a September 2024 media release that this vaccine is designed to protect against multiple Norovirus genotypes by instructing cells to produce virus-like particles that stimulate an immune response without causing infection.
Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna in the release, “Norovirus is a significant public health concern that affects millions of people worldwide each year, leading to severe symptoms and, in some cases, hospitalization. By advancing our investigational Norovirus vaccine into a pivotal
Moderna’s vaccine is currently undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial, known as the Nova 301 Trial, which aims to evaluate its safety, effectiveness, and immune response in adults. This trial plans to enroll approximately 25,000 participants globally, including individuals from the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. If the trial demonstrates that the vaccine is safe and effective, Moderna said it plans to submit a marketing application to U.S. health regulators in 2026, potentially leading to the first approved vaccine for Norovirus.
As per Doran Fink, Moderna’s clinical therapeutic area head for gastrointestinal and bacterial pathogens, Moderna needs to see a certain number of cases before it can analyze the data and determine how well its vaccine works, putting the timeline in flux. The 25,000-person study is enrolling ahead of schedule, Fink added, “I don’t know if it’s directly attributable to the increased incidence of Norovirus this season, but we clearly have a lot of interest in participation in this trial.”
However, Moderna isn’t the only pharmaceutical company trying to combat the stomach bug.
Vaxtart, a biotechnology company focused on developing oral vaccines, is also developing a Norovirus vaccine, with their candidate currently in early-stage clinical trials.
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus, also known as Norwalk virus and sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. The virus is named after the city of Norwalk, Ohio, US, where an outbreak occurred in 1968.
Norovirus infection is characterized by non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Fever or headaches may also occur. Symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed, and recovery typically occurs within one to three days. Complications are uncommon but may include dehydration, especially in the young, the old, and those with other health problems.
The virus is usually spread by the fecal–oral route. This may be through contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact. It may also spread via contaminated surfaces or through air from the vomit of an infected person. Risk factors include unsanitary food preparation and sharing close quarters. Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms. Confirmatory testing is not usually available but may be performed by public health agencies during outbreaks.
How to fight Norovirus?
Although there are no approved vaccines or antivirals to combat Norovirus currently, prevention of the virus involves proper hand washing and disinfection of contaminated surfaces. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Norovirus. Management involves supportive care such as drinking sufficient fluids or intravenous fluids. Oral rehydration solutions are the preferred fluids to drink, although other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against Norovirus, according to the NHS information page on the subject; this is due to Norovirus being a non-enveloped virus.
Norovirus results in about 685 million cases of disease and 200,000 deaths globally a year. It is common both in the developed and developing world. Those under the age of five are most often affected, and in this group, it results in about 50,000 deaths in the developing world. Norovirus infections occur more commonly during winter months. It often occurs in outbreaks, especially among those living in close quarters. In the United States, it is the cause of about half of all foodborne disease outbreaks.
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