US-based pharmaceutical company Moderna has confirmed it is developing a hantavirus vaccine in collaboration with the Vaccine Innovation Center of Korea University College of Medicine (VIC-K). The partnership aims to create an mRNA-based vaccine to prevent infections from hantaviruses, which can cause severe respiratory and kidney diseases.
According to a press release from Korea University on May 11, 2026, the vaccine candidate, named mRNA-4157, has entered Phase 1 clinical trials. The study is recruiting healthy adults aged 19 to 55 years to evaluate safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity. The trial is being conducted at Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul.
Hantaviruses are primarily transmitted through rodent droppings and urine, with outbreaks occurring in various regions, including the Americas and Asia. The development of this vaccine follows recent outbreaks in South Korea and parts of Europe, highlighting the need for preventive measures.
Moderna and VIC-K have not disclosed a timeline for further trial phases or potential approval. The collaboration leverages Moderna's mRNA platform, which was successfully used for COVID-19 vaccines.
