20/02/2026 (Agence Europe) – In a press release issued on Friday 20 February, the European Commission announced a record investment of €225 million to finance the development of a new generation of influenza vaccines. This initiative aims to create solutions that protect citizens against a wider range of variants and that can be rapidly adapted in the event of a pandemic. This is the first time that the European Commission has used pre-marketing public procurement contracts to support products during their clinical trials. The projects that are selected will explore simplified methods of administration, such as nasal sprays or skin patches. “Innovation is at the heart of preparedness”, said Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, stressing that this investment “reinforces our resilience against future health threats”. The eight-year contracts will see these technologies right through to market authorisation. (JM)