Moderna (MRNA.O) revealed on Wednesday that clinical trial data indicates its updated COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be effective against the highly mutated BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus, which has sparked concerns about a resurgence of infections.
According to the company, its vaccine generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against BA.2.86 in human trials. This particular subvariant has been closely monitored by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC had previously raised concerns about BA.2.86’s potential to cause infections in individuals who had previously contracted COVID-19 or received earlier vaccines. This Omicron offshoot carries over 35 mutations in critical parts of the virus, distinguishing it from XBB.1.5, the dominant variant in most of 2023, and the primary target for the updated vaccines.
Moderna has shared these findings with regulators and submitted them for peer-reviewed publication. While the revised vaccine has yet to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is anticipated to become available later this month or in early October.
Moderna, along with other COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers like Novavax (NVAX.O) and Pfizer (PFE.N) in partnership with BioNTech (22UAy.DE), has developed versions of their vaccines aimed at countering the XBB.1.5 subvariant.
Notably, last month, both Moderna and Pfizer reported that their new vaccines appeared effective against another concerning subvariant known as EG.5 in initial testing.
European regulators have already endorsed the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, with the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency approving it recently, but they are yet to make any announcements regarding Moderna’s updated vaccine.
The BA.2.86 subvariant has been detected in multiple countries, including Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, the United States, and Britain, as reported by a WHO official.
While monitoring the variant remains crucial, experts have suggested that widespread immunity from mass vaccination and prior infections worldwide is likely to prevent a significant surge in severe disease and fatalities. Moderna’s shares experienced a marginal increase to $109.89 before the opening bell, erasing their premarket losses.
