Upcoming 2026-2027 Vaccine Season: Deals, Data, and an FDA Vote

Recent vaccine news includes the acquisition by Eli Lilly and Co. of 3 vaccine development companies for a combined total of $3.83 billion,¹ an FDA advisory panel's vote in favor of updating COVID-19 vaccines to target the emerging XFG variant amid a decline of accurate surveillance data,² and a new modeling study showing adjuvanted influenza vaccines are more beneficial and effective for adults aged 50 to 64 years.³

Eli Lilly Acquires 3 Vaccine Companies in Deals Worth Up to $3.83 Billion

Curevo, headquartered just outside Seattle, is developing a shingles vaccine that is meant to produce similar immune protection against existing options but with fewer common adverse effects such as fatigue and injection-site pain, which could potentially improve vaccine uptake and lower complications that arise from shingles. Curevo shareholders could receive up to $1.5 billion in cash from the deal. Swiss company LimmaTech is working to address antibiotic resistance by creating vaccines to prevent bacterial infections. The company’s lead vaccine is in early human testing, with the goal of preventing serious infections such as staph infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and other long-term complications that disproportionately affect women. LimmaTech will be acquired for up to $780 million. The third acquisition, California-based Vaccine Company Inc, is developing a nanoparticle vaccine, with its lead program targeting the Epstein-Barr virus, being designed to trigger a strong, long-lasting immune response without the manufacturing complexity of older vaccines. Vaccine Company Inc hopes to prevent both immediate illness and any long-term complications that develop later on due to the virus, such as multiple sclerosis and certain cancers. Its shareholders could receive up to $1.55 billion in cash.¹

FDA Panel Votes to Update COVID-19 Vaccines for Dominant XFG Strain

An FDA panel voted in favor of updating COVID-19 vaccines to target the dominant US variant, XFG, which represented most of the documented cases for more than 6 months. However, in briefing documents released ahead of the meeting, FDA staff raised concerns about "the limited and deteriorating quality of data on currently circulating strains."² The agency noted that assessing COVID-19’s evolution has become difficult due to the decline of virologic surveillance, sequencing volumes, and data sharing from state and local public health departments. The CDC’s COVID-19 dashboard reflects this data gap, driven by low sequencing submissions. Jill Roberts, PhD, associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, told Reuters that the potential loss of data could be due to reduced sequencing from the loss of government surveillance staff and cuts to academic research funding, both of which are making real-time tracking of variant evolution difficult to sustain.²

Adjuvanted Flu Vaccines Show Greater Benefit for Adults Aged 50 to 64

Adults aged 50 to 64 carry some of the highest influenza infection rates, second only to children. Most adults in this age group have at least 1 high-risk condition, which raises the risk of severe complications following influenza, such as hospitalization or death. According to a new modeling study, the effects of adjuvanted flu vaccines show significant benefits for adults aged 50 to 64 years compared with nonadjuvanted influenza vaccines. Research shows each 5% improvement in effectiveness regarding adjuvanted vaccines (aTIV/aQIV) for adults aged 50 to 64 could avert an estimated average of 172,738 symptomatic cases, 74,277 outpatient visits, 1832 hospitalizations, 343 intensive care unit admissions, and 105 deaths per season. The study points to substantial public health benefits from broader use of adjuvanted vaccines in this age group. ³

These developments—Eli Lilly and Co.’s acquisition of 3 vaccine development companies, the FDA advisory panel’s vote to update COVID-19 vaccines to target the XFG variant, and new modeling data supporting broader use of adjuvanted influenza vaccines for adults aged 50 to 64—collectively point to an active fall 2026 vaccine season.

References

1. Barbarino A. Eli Lilly expands vaccine push with deals worth up to $3.8B. Law360. May 26, 2026. Accessed June 30, 2026. https://www.law360.com/health/articles/2481656

2. Jacobus N. FDA’s advisory panel votes in favor of updating Covid-19 vaccine shots to target the XFG variant. PharmExec. May 28, 2026.Accessed June 30, 2026. https://www.pharmexec.com/view/fda-advisory-panel-vote-composition-covid-19-vaccines-2026-2027

3. McGovern I, Flores R, Haag MDM. Potential to avert additional influenza burden in the United States with use of adjuvanted vs. standard influenza vaccines in individuals 50–64 years of age. Vaccines (Basel). 2026;14(5):380. doi:10.3390/vaccines14050380