Moderna is planning on creating a vaccine booster to help combat new variants. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images)

   
 
 

HOME  I I  HI TECH NEWS  I SPORTS I CONTACT

000

 
 


  Moderna booster increases antibodies against COVID-19 variants, early data shows

By Carl O'donnell
reuters.com

A vial and sryinge are seen in front of a displayed Moderna logo in this illustration taken January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) said on Wednesday early human trial data shows that a third dose of either its current COVID-19 shot or an experimental new vaccine candidate increases immunity against variants of COVID-19 first found in Brazil and South Africa.

The booster shots, given to volunteers previously inoculated with Moderna's two-dose vaccine regimen, also boosted antibodies against the original version of COVID-19, Moderna said.

The early data comes from a 40-person trial testing both Moderna's existing shot and a version developed to protect against the South African variant of COVID-19 called mRNA-1273.351. Moderna is also studying a shot that combines both the new and existing vaccine.

The results show that while booster shots of either version of the vaccine increased antibodies against all of the variants of COVID-19 tested in the trial, the new booster had a bigger response against the South African variant than the original vaccine.

"We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that our booster strategy should be protective" against the newer variants of COVID-19, Stephane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Both booster shots were well tolerated, with side effects similar to what volunteers in previous studies experienced from the second dose of its vaccine, Moderna said.

The new variants of COVID-19 first discovered in South Africa and Brazil are thought to be more resistant to existing vaccines. Both variants have been detected in the United States but comprise only a small fraction of U.S. cases so far, according to federal data last updated in April.

Moderna’s study is looking at levels of antibodies in participants’ blood that combat COVID-19, an early indication that they will be protected against the virus. It first announced it was studying ways to protect against the variants of COVID-19 in February.

Moderna expects to share additional data soon on another potential booster shot that mixes its existing COVID-19 vaccine with the newly developed shot.

The U.S. government scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is conducting a separate early stage study of mRNA-1273.351, Moderna said.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


 

Advertise With Us:

mbe logo 100-012821 copy

Certified Minority Business Enterprise

 

 

   
 
 

All Rights Reserved   2003-2021 Tell Us USA
Disclaimer  Policy Statement
Site Powered By Tell Us Worldwide Media Company - Detroit, Michigan. USA

 

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter

 

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter

 

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter

 

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter

 

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter

 

Web
Analytics Made Easy - StatCounter