Influenza A

Of the four major strains of the influenza virus, A and B cause most human illness and the annual flu epidemics, novel A subtypes can even result in pandemics (e.g. H1N1 for the 1918 flu pandemic) and are responsible for most severe cases and deaths. [1]

The novel vaccine

A new universal vaccine against the influenza A virus was tested successfully on mice and ferrets.  It conferred protection against multiple distinct influenza A strains in mice and ferrets. [2] 

Phase 1 clinical trial

A Phase 1 clinical trial of a candidate vaccine, BPL-1357 has begun inoculating healthy adult volunteers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The placebo-controlled trial will test the safety and its ability to prompt immune responses. [3] It is scheduled to complete on 1 March 2023, and will generate evidence for safety and Immunogenicity against various strains. [4]

Sources

1. Types of Influenza Viruses. CDC
2. An inactivated multivalent influenza A virus vaccine. Science, 13 July 2022
3. Trial of potential universal flu vaccine opens. NIH, 28 June 2022
4. Safety and Immunogenicity of BPL-1357. ClinicalTrials.gov, 7 July 2022