Pfizer / BioNTech says Omicron-based COVID shots improve response compared to its variants

New York: Pfizer and BioNTech SE will receive a higher immune response against the variant on Saturday with a booster dose of an updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine specifically modified to fight the Omicron coronavirus variant. Said that.
US Food and Drug Administration advisors will meet on Tuesday to discuss whether to renew the COVID-19 vaccine for the fall. According to experts, the updated shots are likely to be redesigned to fight the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Pfizer and BioNTech found that doses of 30 and 60 micrograms of shots targeting only the BA.1 omicron subvariant that was circulating last winter were 13.5 times the neutralization geometric titer for that subvariant and He said he induced a 19.6-fold increase. Shot versions, including both the redesigned vaccine and the original vaccine, elicited 9.1-fold and 10.9-fold increases, they said.
The results are from a study of 1,234 people over the age of 56. The shot was well tolerated by the participants, the company said.
They found that early laboratory studies showed that both Omicron modification candidates neutralize the recently circulating Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, albeit to a lesser extent than in BA.1. Said suggesting. Titer is about 3 times. low. Both companies say they continue to collect data on how well boosters work against recently circulating strains.
Moderna Inc has also created a redesigned vaccine for the BA.1 Omicron subvariant. The company said the updated vaccine worked well against recent Omicron submutants and is in the process of seeking regulatory approval. (Report by Michael Erman, edited by Nick Zieminski)