New dual-action vaccine against original SARS-CoV-2 strain and Omicron variant
Moderna’s novel bivalent vaccine is the first of its kind to be approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The UK has become the first country to approve Moderna’s novel bivalent vaccine against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus strain and the recent Omicron variant, which will form a part of the country’s autumn booster campaign.
With the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the large surge in COVID-19 cases around the world since December 2021, Moderna’s latest vaccine – termed Spikevax – aims to target both the original viral strain as well as the first Omicron variant BA.1, a type of vaccine known as a bivalent vaccine. The vaccine arrives on the heels of multiple new strains of the original coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the UK has considered the evidence, including experiments on 437 individuals demonstrating the safety of the vaccine and their increased immunity against variants of SARS-CoV-2. It was discovered that the levels of antibodies able to detect and bind to the BA.1 Omicron variant were 1.7 times higher in those who were administered the new vaccine. Antibodies against more recent Omicron variants, BA.4 and BA.5, which are responsible for the current wave of UK cases, were also present in higher levels.
June Raine, the regulatory agency’s Chief Executive, commented: “What this bivalent vaccine gives us is a sharpened tool in our armoury to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve.”
However, the experiments are not without uncertainties. It is unclear whether the higher levels of antibodies provided by the vaccine equate to the prevention of serious illness, or whether it rules out the possibilities of new variants in the future. It is unknown whether an updated vaccine will be required and how effective they will be.
For now, health ministers in the UK remain optimistic regarding the bivalent vaccine and plans for an autumn booster campaign. CEO of Moderna Stephane Bancel stated: “This represents the first authorisation of an Omicron-containing bivalent vaccine – this bivalent vaccine has an important role to play in protecting people in the UK from COVID-19 as we enter the winter months.”
Related News
-
News Pharmapack Awards 2024 Patient-Centric Design Award Winner – Dr Ferrer BioPharma
The 2024 Pharmapack Awards celebrated the best in innovation and design for the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery industry on January 24, 2024. -
News Women in Pharma: Minding the Gap at Pharmapack 2024
2024 marks the first year Pharmapack will host a Diversity track dedicated to bridging the gap within the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery sector. The track includes a panel discussion on 'Enabling Diversity in the Workplace,' focused... -
News Pharmapack Awards 2024 - Celebrating Packaging and Drug Delivery Innovation
The 2024 Pharmapack Innovation Awards ceremony celebrated the best in pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery innovation at all levels. The awards were held on January 24, 2024 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. -
News 2024 Pharma Industry Trends Outlook: Collaboration, Market Maturity, and Digital Futures
The annual CPHI Online 2024 Pharma Trends Outlook, in partnership with Arvato Systems, identifies 12 key industry trends shaping the life sciences industry in the coming year. -
News New Novo Nordisk AI hub for drug discovery to open in London, UK
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will be opening an AI-based research facility in the heart of London to advance drug discovery operations. -
News BioNTech to begin mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Rwanda by 2025
German biotechnology company BioNTech has stated their intentions to begin production at their mRNA vaccine factory in Rwanda by 2025, which will mark the first foreign mRNA vaccine manufacturing site on the continent of Africa. -
News Women in Pharma: Looking back on 2023 and moving forward to 2024
In this monthly series, we interview women from across the pharmaceutical industry and supply chain to discuss the importance of gender diversity in healthcare, the workplace, and beyond. -
News CPHI Barcelona 2023: Partnering for Success – Managing Outsourcing Relationships to Optimise Manufacturing Operations
During CPHI Barcelona 2023, insightful content sessions offered attendees the chance to explore trending topics with expert speakers and panellists. Here, we summarise what the pharma industry and supply chain are talking about the most.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance