Moderna could prepare a boost for Omicron by March

LAST UPDATE: 22.55

By March, Moderna could have its US vaccine ready for approval, specifically targeting a variant of the coronavirus called Omicron, according to Steven Hogg, chairman of the board, according to the company. the Reuters agency.

Hogg believes he believes booster vaccines that carry genes that specifically target mutations in Omicron are the fastest way to address a possible reduction in vaccine effectiveness.

“We have already started this program,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the company is also working to develop a multivalent vaccine that will target up to four variants of the coronavirus, including Omicron. But it will take many more months to prepare, he added.

It is noted that the first case of the Omicron variant in the US was detected in California, as announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health authorities are looking into whether this variant is more contagious, causes more serious illness or is not covered by existing vaccines.

With previous US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for approval of formulations stating that mid-stage clinical trials need to be completed, Hong said the vaccine development process could take three to four months. .

“Realistically, boosts for Omicron are not expected before March, or even later, in the second quarter of the year,” Hogg said, unless the FDA changes its data guidance to give its approval.

Moderna could make the vaccine while testing it, Hogg said, so it would be ready for distribution as soon as possible.

According to Hogg, the FDA could speed up the schedule if it follows the way it approves flu vaccines that do not require large, randomized clinical trials.

“Based on the pattern of mutations observed in Omicron, which includes mutations that have already been shown to reduce the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine in laboratory studies, Hogg said,” we expect some impact. ” It is not yet clear how much the reduction in efficiency due to Omicron will be, but it could be significant, he added. “Mutations that had previously led to reduced efficacy were observed in the (variations) Delta and Beta. And all of these mutations are present in Omicron,” he said.

Hong said the company is conducting studies to see if those who have been fully vaccinated with the drug are protected from the variant, as well as what happens to those who have received booster doses of 50 and 100 micrograms. “I still believe that existing vaccines will be able to slow down, if not completely stop, the Omicron variant,” he concluded.