Moderna's new flu vaccine, based on the same mRNA technology used in its COVID-19 shot, showed promising results in a major trial, the company announced.

Moderna said on Monday its experimental influenza vaccine was found to be 26.6% more effective than a currently approved annual flu shot when tested in adults aged 50 years and older in a late-stage study.

A long-lasting formulation of an antiviral drug greatly reduced people’s risk of a symptomatic flu infection in a trial, and should even be effective against new strains