Omicron
Biontech is working on vaccine adaptation
Not all data are available yet. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
“Don’t waste any time” – that is the motto. Biontech has a possible adaptation of the vaccine in mind. The necessary steps have already been taken.
In addition to ongoing laboratory tests to examine the new Omikron corona variant, the Mainz vaccine manufacturer Biontech is also working on the development of an adapted vaccine – preventively in the event that it might become necessary.
“In order not to lose time, we are tackling these two tasks in parallel until the data are available and we have more information on whether the vaccine should be adjusted or not,” said a Biontech spokeswoman for the German press agency.
According to Biontech, the two work steps partially coincide. “On the one hand, we immediately started investigations into the Omikron variant. On the other hand, we have taken the first steps in the development of a potential new vaccine, which overlap with the laboratory tests, ”said the company.
The laboratory tests are necessary to assess whether a new vaccination might be necessary. Sera from vaccinated persons would be confronted with the spike protein of the variant. “The sera contain the antibodies that we have after the vaccination,” said the Biontech spokeswoman. It is then checked how well they neutralize the new spike protein, i.e. render it harmless.
Biontech classified the steps already initiated on Thursday as a “standard procedure” for new variants. “The aim of this approach is to make rapid development progress should a variant-specific vaccine be required,” said the company.
Biontech announced on Friday that the new variant differs significantly from the previously observed variants because it has additional mutations on the spike protein. The data from the laboratory tests that are now ongoing will soon provide information on whether an adaptation of the vaccine will be necessary if this variant spreads internationally. The company expected findings by the end of next week at the latest.
Together with the US partner Pfizer, preparations were made months ago to adapt the vaccine within six weeks in the event of a so-called escape variant of the virus and to deliver the first batches within 100 days, Biontech said. Clinical studies with variant-specific vaccines have been started to collect data on safety and tolerability. In the event of an adjustment, these could be presented to the authorities as sample data.
An escape variant is a virus variant which at least partially eludes the effect of the currently available vaccines. A vaccine based on the messenger molecule mRNA like the one from Biontech or Moderna can be produced more quickly than conventional vaccines, since only the blueprint has to be produced, not the antigen itself.