Patients already vaccinated against Covid-19 with doses of Moderna are well protected against variants detected in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
The American biotechnology company assures, on Monday, in a press release, that its vaccine remains effective against these more contagious variants.
Experts expect the vaccine "to protect against variants detected on this date," she said after testing.
Moderna said, however, that she would work to develop an additional dose to further increase protection against these variants.
"The study did not show a significant impact on the titers (levels, editor's note) of antibodies against the B.1.1.7 variant compared to previous variants," Moderna explained of the British variant.
Antibodies sometimes lower but still effective
In contrast, "a six-fold reduction" in antibody levels against the South African variant (B.1.351) was observed.
But "despite this reduction", antibody levels "remain above what is expected as necessary to provide protection," Moderna writes.
To study the impact of its vaccine, called mRNA-1273, Moderna took blood samples from eight people who had received two doses of its remedy, and several primates who were also immune.
"We are encouraged by this new data, which strengthens our confidence in the fact that Moderna's vaccine against Covid-19 should protect against these new variants detected," said boss Stéphane Bancel, quoted in the press release.
A new test recall
"But as a precaution, […] we are testing a candidate for a booster against the" South African variant, "to determine if it would be more effective in increasing the levels (of antibodies) against that variant and 'other potential future variants,' he added.
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The company will also test the impact of injecting a third dose of its already existing vaccine.
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The results of the trials, conducted in collaboration with the American National Institutes of Health (NIH), will be submitted for study by the scientific community.
