A bottle with the coronavirus treatment next to the Moderna logo.JOEL SAGET / AFP
Modern pharmaceutical company confirmed on Monday that its coronavirus vaccine generates an immune response against the two new variants detected for the first time in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The biotech company has also warned that laboratory results show that the efficacy in generating antibodies against the South African strain is lower than for the original virus, so they are working on a new vaccine that may possibly be added to the current treatment of the two doses.
Among the details revealed today, it stands out that the vaccine achieves six times less protection when it comes to the South African variant.
However, the pharmaceutical company pointed out in a press release that, despite this reduction, the levels of neutralizers against this strain remain above values that it considers will continue to protect.
Moderna has sent the manuscript of the preliminary study to bioRxiv and prior to its scientific publication it will be reviewed by peers.
Although early indications are encouraging, Moderna has announced that it will launch two new studios.
By way of prevention, the company will test an additional booster dose at two that includes the treatment of its coronavirus vaccine and is also developing a version of the vaccine to better respond to the South African variant, which is already in preclinical studies and in a phase 1 study in the United States.
“As we try to defeat the virus, we believe it is imperative to be proactive as the virus evolves.
We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforces our confidence that the vaccine should be protective against these newly detected variants, ”said Stephen Hoge, President of Moderna.
The discovery of two variants of the faster-spreading coronavirus has caused major concern as vaccination plans are launched in countries.
Fears that current vaccines would be out of date even before patients received the second dose lessened this morning with Moderna's announcement.
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