The study found that a booster shot from Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine elicits a strong antibody response against the Omicron variant, appearing to raise antibody levels even further than a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The US biotech company said that its half-dose booster increases antibody levels 37-fold, compared with people who received just two doses.
BioNTech and Pfizer have previously said their booster shots increases antibody levels 25-fold, however the studies may not be directly comparable.
Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive, confirmed on Monday said the company would also continue to develop a vaccine that is specifically targeted to the Omicron variant, in case it became necessary in the future.
This new version of the vaccine will likely be put to clinical trials next year.
He said: “The dramatic increase in Covid-19 cases from the Omicron variant is concerning to all.
“However, these data showing that the currently authorised Moderna Covid-19 booster can boost neutralising antibody levels 37-fold higher than pre-boost levels are reassuring.”
The trials also found that getting a complete dose of the Moderna vaccine strengthened antibody levels even further, by 83-fold.
The firm also provided the safety data for the full dose booster, saying that the side effects were at similar levels to the previous two doses but slightly more frequent than that for the half dose.
Pfizer and BioNTech have previously announced that they are preparing a booster shot targeted to Omicron, which will be available by March.
READ MORE:Omicron boosters could be delivered across the WHOLE UK ‘very quickly’
The reason for Moderna’s success in the trials may be due to the fact that its half-dose booster contains more messenger RNA than Pfizer’s full dose.
Messenger RNA is a type of RNA that is necessary for protein production as it uses the information in genes to create a blueprint for making proteins and generating an immune response.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.