The approval for the corona vaccine Novavax is currently still being examined. However, the vaccine should already be adapted to the new Omikron variant.
Kassel – The Omikron variant is on the advance worldwide and is a cause for concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the risk from the new corona mutant as “very high”. How well the vaccines approved in the EU protect against the new variant is still uncertain. The manufacturers of the vaccines are, however, already in the process of testing their vaccines and adapting them if necessary.
This has now also been announced by a US vaccine manufacturer whose vaccine has not yet been approved for the European market. The corona vaccine from the US company Novavax could soon be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Corona vaccine Novavax: Manufacturer wants to adapt vaccine to Omikron variant
The specialty of the corona vaccine Novavax: In contrast to the mRNA vaccines from Biontech and Moderna, the immunization is carried out by protein particles. The Novavax vaccine contains laboratory-made particles of the Sars-Cov-2 protein that are designed to produce antibodies in the body.
According to reports from the manufacturer, a study with 30,000 test persons showed an effectiveness of more than 90 percent against corona diseases of various degrees of severity. The company also announced that it would adapt the corona vaccine to the new Omikron variant.
Novavax is conducting ongoing studies to evaluate several corona variants. First of all, the American manufacturer wants to evaluate the corona vaccine against the Omicron variant, as has already been done for earlier Corona variants such as Alpha, Beta and Delta. In addition, Novavax has started developing an Omikron-specific vaccine construct, as the company announced in a press release.
Does Novavax protect against the corona mutant Omikron? Studies give hope
After the appearance of the previous corona variants Alpha, Beta and Delta, the antibody reactions after vaccination with Novavax in the USA and Australia were analyzed in clinical studies. Patients who received a third vaccination (booster vaccination) with the Novavax vaccine were examined for the production of antibodies against corona. “The reactions were encouraging for the protection against new variants,” says the company.
According to the company, Novavax plans to start manufacturing a corona vaccine that specifically targets Omikron-specific spikes as early as January 2022. The first steps are already underway.
People who have been infected with the Corona variant Omikron in South Africa have not yet been seriously ill, but have so far shown unusual symptoms. When will the corona pandemic finally end? A British research team has now dared to make a forecast. It turns out gloomy. (Helena Gries)
Rubriclistenbild: © Tomislav Miletic / Imago
