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Pfizer and BioNTech start trials of new Omicron-specific jab | Pfizer and BioNTech start trials of new Omicron-specific jab |
(32 minutes later) | |
Pfizer and BioNTech have started clinical trials of a new Covid vaccine which targets the Omicron variant. | Pfizer and BioNTech have started clinical trials of a new Covid vaccine which targets the Omicron variant. |
The companies plan to test the protection gained from the new vaccine as a booster jab and as three separate jabs in unvaccinated people. | The companies plan to test the protection gained from the new vaccine as a booster jab and as three separate jabs in unvaccinated people. |
More than 1,400 adults are expected to be enrolled in the trial, likely to be in the United States. | More than 1,400 adults are expected to be enrolled in the trial, likely to be in the United States. |
US company Moderna is planning to begin trials of its own Omicron-specific shot soon. | US company Moderna is planning to begin trials of its own Omicron-specific shot soon. |
Oxford University and AstraZeneca have also started working on a new version of their vaccine. | Oxford University and AstraZeneca have also started working on a new version of their vaccine. |
Vaccine developers had always planned to tweak their original Covid vaccines as new variants emerged, but the arrival of the fast-spreading Omicron strain in the last two months has hastened that process. | Vaccine developers had always planned to tweak their original Covid vaccines as new variants emerged, but the arrival of the fast-spreading Omicron strain in the last two months has hastened that process. |
Many countries have now offered a booster or third dose of their original vaccine, which has been shown to provide a good level of protection against serious illness and death - even against Omicron. | Many countries have now offered a booster or third dose of their original vaccine, which has been shown to provide a good level of protection against serious illness and death - even against Omicron. |
But protection against infection and mild symptoms is much lower and could decline more quickly. | But protection against infection and mild symptoms is much lower and could decline more quickly. |
'Essential' | |
"Staying vigilant against the virus requires us to identify new approaches for people to maintain a high level of protection, and we believe developing and investigating variant-based vaccines, like this one, are essential in our efforts towards this goal," said Kathrin U. Jansen, senior vice-president and head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer. | "Staying vigilant against the virus requires us to identify new approaches for people to maintain a high level of protection, and we believe developing and investigating variant-based vaccines, like this one, are essential in our efforts towards this goal," said Kathrin U. Jansen, senior vice-president and head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer. |
Prof Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said new data indicated that "vaccine-induced protection against infection and mild to moderate disease wanes more rapidly than was observed with prior strains". | Prof Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said new data indicated that "vaccine-induced protection against infection and mild to moderate disease wanes more rapidly than was observed with prior strains". |
"This study is part of our science-based approach to develop a variant-based vaccine that achieves a similar level of protection against Omicron as it did with earlier variants, but with longer duration of protection," he added. | |
The companies say they expect to produce four billion doses of their Covid-19 vaccine this year, and this number will include doses of the updated vaccine if trials suggest it is needed. | The companies say they expect to produce four billion doses of their Covid-19 vaccine this year, and this number will include doses of the updated vaccine if trials suggest it is needed. |
In the trial of the new vaccine, 615 adults will receive two doses of the current Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, followed by one or two doses of the Omicron-targeted jab. | In the trial of the new vaccine, 615 adults will receive two doses of the current Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, followed by one or two doses of the Omicron-targeted jab. |
A second group of 600 who received three doses of the current vaccine will get another of the current one or the Omicron vaccine. | A second group of 600 who received three doses of the current vaccine will get another of the current one or the Omicron vaccine. |
Finally, a small group of 200 unvaccinated adults will receive three doses of the new Omicron-targeted shot. | Finally, a small group of 200 unvaccinated adults will receive three doses of the new Omicron-targeted shot. |
Fast spread | |
Within days of the Omicron variant being detected in South Africa, vaccine manufacturers said new versions of their vaccines to target the variant could be ready within 100 days. | Within days of the Omicron variant being detected in South Africa, vaccine manufacturers said new versions of their vaccines to target the variant could be ready within 100 days. |
But there are still doubts over whether an updated vaccine would be any better than the current versions. | But there are still doubts over whether an updated vaccine would be any better than the current versions. |
They were designed to target the original virus which emerged from China, and they also provide high levels of protection against the Alpha and Delta variants. | They were designed to target the original virus which emerged from China, and they also provide high levels of protection against the Alpha and Delta variants. |
In recent days, Prof Andrew Pollard, who led the development of the Oxford-AZ vaccine, said Omicron had spread at such speed that it was "quite difficult to make and deploy an updated vaccine quickly enough" to make a difference. | In recent days, Prof Andrew Pollard, who led the development of the Oxford-AZ vaccine, said Omicron had spread at such speed that it was "quite difficult to make and deploy an updated vaccine quickly enough" to make a difference. |
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