Status: 03/11/2022 12:42 p.m
In the fight against the corona virus, the US manufacturer Moderna is starting a study for a booster vaccine: This combines the vaccine previously used with a vaccine for the omicron variant that is currently being developed.
The US company Moderna starts clinical tests with a combined omicron booster vaccine. This is a product for booster vaccinations that combines the corona vaccine candidate tailored to the Omicron variant with the original vaccine, as the manufacturer announced. According to the information, around 375 subjects are to take part in the phase 2 study in the USA. However, the vaccine candidate tailored to the omicron variant is also being examined separately in a separate phase 2 study in the USA.
“Our goal is to always be one step ahead of the virus,” said Moderna boss Stéphane Bancel. “We are committed to generating and sharing data with health authorities as they prepare for the fall refresher season.” As early as January, Moderna had started a clinical study of the vaccine, which was specially tailored to the omicron variant, in which around 600 volunteers were to take part.
BioNTech is working on a concept for autumn and winter
BioNTech and Pfizer have also already started their first clinical study on a vaccine specially tailored to Omikron. “The results will be available in the next few weeks,” said BioNTech founder Ugur Sahin yesterday. The Mainz-based company recently stated that it expects the Omicron-specific vaccine to be available in April or May.
Sahin now made it clear that it was also about preparing for the next winter. BioNTech is currently developing a concept with its partners for autumn and winter to prepare for the transition from an acute pandemic to an endemic one. “We are confident that we can keep up with the changing nature of the virus,” he said.