According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the norovirus, which is widespread worldwide, is the cause of a large proportion of gastrointestinal infections. Those who catch the virus suffer from nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. It is very contagious and can spread quickly from person to person.
There is not much that can be done preventively beyond general hygiene rules. There is currently no vaccine against the norovirus. However, doctors have now begun to test the world’s first mRNA vaccine against the norovirus.
Norovirus vaccine based on mRNA technology is being tested
The vaccine is to undergo a phase three clinical trial called Nova 301. In two years, 25,000 people, mainly over 60 years old, from countries such as Japan, Canada and Australia are to be involved, reports the Guardian. Mobile teams are also to be used to make it easier for people to participate in the trial.
Half of the participants are to receive the new mRNA vaccine and the other half a saline solution as a placebo. The assignment follows at random.
Various institutions of the British National Health Service (NHS) and the pharmaceutical company Moderna, which manufactures the vaccine, are involved in the study. The norovirus vaccine is based on an mRNA technology with which the company Moderna, but also Pizer/Biontech, have already produced a vaccine against the corona virus.
In an earlier trial with the new norovirus vaccine, strong immune reactions are said to have already been detected in humans. The study is now about investigating whether the vaccine is effective against the virus itself and, if so, how long the protection lasts. “At least 65 percent (efficacy) or more is what we would consider clinically sensible,” the Guardian quotes Dr. Doran Fink of Moderna.
Norovirus is a threat to old and sick people
Norovirus outbreaks are common in hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers or schools. Especially for very young or old people and for anyone who has a weakened immune system, an infection can have serious consequences. A successful vaccine would help ensure that operations in nursing homes could be maintained normally, says Prof. Saul Faust of the University of Southampton, according to the report.
General practitioner and study leader Dr. Patrick Moore emphasizes how high the burden of norovirus is. Worldwide, there are about 685 million cases and 200,000 deaths every year. In the UK, there are about four million cases a year.
It is hoped that a vaccine could bring health and economic benefits. “In the UK, norovirus costs the NHS an estimated £100 million a year [and] if you take into account the loss of earnings, it’s about £300 million,” says Moore.
If the result of the study is positive, it is expected that it will be possible to submit an application for approval for the vaccine in 2026. However, the review process would take another up to a year. In addition, further studies on teenagers and younger people would be needed.

News
Instant coffee may damage your eyes, genetic study finds
A new genetic study shows that just one extra cup of instant coffee a day could significantly increase your risk of developing dry AMD, shedding fresh light on how our daily beverage choices may [...]
Nanoneedle patch offers painless alternative to traditional cancer biopsies
A patch containing tens of millions of microscopic nanoneedles could soon replace traditional biopsies, scientists have found. The patch offers a painless and less invasive alternative for millions of patients worldwide who undergo biopsies [...]
Small antibodies provide broad protection against SARS coronaviruses
Scientists have discovered a unique class of small antibodies that are strongly protective against a wide range of SARS coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and numerous early and recent SARS-CoV-2 variants. The unique antibodies target an [...]
Controlling This One Molecule Could Halt Alzheimer’s in Its Tracks
New research identifies the immune molecule STING as a driver of brain damage in Alzheimer’s. A new approach to Alzheimer’s disease has led to an exciting discovery that could help stop the devastating cognitive decline [...]
Cyborg tadpoles are helping us learn how brain development starts
How does our brain, which is capable of generating complex thoughts, actions and even self-reflection, grow out of essentially nothing? An experiment in tadpoles, in which an electronic implant was incorporated into a precursor [...]
Prime Editing: The Next Frontier in Genetic Medicine
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. Discover how prime editing is redefining the future of medicine by offering highly precise, safe, and versatile DNA corrections, bringing hope for more effective treatments for genetic diseases [...]
Can scientists predict life longevity from a drop of blood?
Discover how a new epigenetic clock measures how fast you are really aging from just a drop of blood or saliva. A recent study published in the journal Nature Aging constructed an intrinsic capacity (IC) clock [...]
What is different about the NB.1.8.1 Covid variant?
For many of us, Covid-19 feels like a chapter we’ve closed – along with the days of PCR tests, mask mandates and daily case updates. But while life may feel back to normal, the [...]
Scientists discover single cell creatures can learn new behaviours
It was previously thought that learning behaviours only applied to animals with complex brain and nervous systems, but a new study has proven that this may also occur in individual cells. As a result, this new evidence may change how [...]
Virus which ’causes multiple organ failure’ found at popular Spanish holiday destination
British tourists planning trips to Spain have been warned after a deadly virus that can cause multiple organ failure has been detected in the country. The Foreign Office issued the alert on its dedicated website Travel [...]
Urgent health warning as dangerous new Covid virus from China triggers US outbreak
A dangerous new Covid variant from China is surging in California, health officials warn. The California Department of Public Health warned this week the highly contagious NB.1.8.1 strain has been detected in the state, making it the [...]
How the evolution of a single gene allowed the plague to adapt, prolonging the pandemics
Scientists have documented the way a single gene in the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, Yersinia pestis, allowed it to survive hundreds of years by adjusting its virulence and the length of time it [...]
Inhalable Nanovaccines: The Future of Needle-Free Immunization
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for adaptable and scalable vaccine technologies. While mRNA vaccines have improved disease prevention, most are delivered by intramuscular injection, which may not effectively prevent infections that begin at [...]
‘Stealthy’ lipid nanoparticles give mRNA vaccines a makeover
A new material developed at Cornell University could significantly improve the delivery and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines by replacing a commonly used ingredient that may trigger unwanted immune responses in some people. Thanks to [...]
You could be inhaling nearly 70,000 plastic particles annually, what it means for your health
Invisible plastics in the air are infiltrating our bodies and cities. Scientists reveal the urgent health dangers and outline bold solutions for a cleaner, safer future. In a recent review article published in the [...]
Experts explain how H5 avian influenza adapts to infect more animals
A new global review reveals how rapidly evolving H5 bird flu viruses are reaching new species, including dairy cattle, and stresses the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent the next pandemic. Since its [...]