Moderna has begun studies on a booster vaccine that combines a formulation designed to fend off the Omicron variant with an existing COVID-19 vaccine.
The first participants in the study have been given an experimental injection in a phase 2 study for the candidate Omicron-specific bivalent booster. This injection incorporates Moderna's current COVID-19 vaccine.
"We are excited to begin our bivalent booster candidate study that includes candidate Omicron-specific and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Our mRNA platform allows the speed and flexibility to create bespoke vaccines to target new variants as they arise," said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, quoted by Reuters. from Mint.
"Our goal is to stay ahead of the virus, and we are committed to generating and sharing data with public health authorities as they prepare," he added.
This study is a continuation of this previous study to evaluate the immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of the candidate Omicron-specific bivalent booster as a single booster dose in adults aged 18 years and over who previously received a two-dose primary COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose, for at least three months. ago.
Moderna hopes to enroll 375 participants in the trial, which will be conducted in about 20 locations in the United States. Separately, Moderna is evaluating Omicron-specific booster candidates in a phase 3 study in the UK, in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
They want to be able to start dosing with the study's Omicron-specific bivalent candidate booster soon. In addition to Moderna, Pfizer Inc. is also studying a vaccine that combines an Omicron targeting candidate with an approved vaccine.
