Novavax says updated COVID-19 vaccine induces antibody response to new variants
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Key takeaways:
- Novavax said its protein-based vaccine induced neutralizing antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- The FDA is expected make decisions on applications for new COVID-19 vaccines in September.
Novavax on Tuesday said its updated COVID-19 vaccine candidate induced neutralizing antibodies against emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariants in small animal and non-human primate studies.
It was the third company to publicize preliminary findings for the updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccines that are expected to be available for patients this fall. None of the three companies have released data on their vaccines yet.
Moderna said last week that preliminary clinical trial data showed its updated vaccine provided a “significant boost” in neutralizing antibodies against emerging omicron subvariants, specifically noting a “robust immune response” against EG.5 and FL.1.5.1 — currently the two most common causes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United State, according to CDC tracking.
A spokesperson for Pfizer told Healio that it continues to test its monovalent vaccine, with recent results in mice showing it effectively neutralized several omicron subvariants, including XBB.1.5 and EG.5.
Novavax said its vaccine candidate induced neutralizing responses to EG.5, XBB.1.16.6, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16 and XBB.2.3, which are all among the most common omicron subvariants. (EG.5 is a descendant lineage of an XBB virus and the most common SARS-CoV-2 variant circulating the in the U.S.)
FDA advisors recommended in June that manufacturers update their COVID-19 vaccines to remove the original, wild strain of SARS-CoV-2 and target only XBB lineages of the omicron variant.
According to the CDC, the FDA is expected to decide on authorizing or approving the updated vaccines in mid- to late September.
“Our data have shown that Novavax’s protein-based COVID vaccine induces broadly neutralizing responses against XBB subvariants, including EG.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6,” Filip Dubrovsky, MD, Novavax’s president of research and development, said in a press release. “We have a lot of confidence in our updated COVID vaccine and are working diligently with global regulatory bodies to ensure our protein-based vaccine is available this fall.”
Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech messenger RNA vaccines, Novavax’s shot is a protein-based vaccine using an adjuvant to spur the immune system.
All three companies have said they are preparing applications for the updated vaccines in the U.S. and other countries, and that they are prepared to deliver them in time for the fall respiratory disease season.
References:
- CDC. COVID data tracker: Variant proportions. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions. Accessed August 22, 2023.
- CDC. HHS commercialism transition guide: Sunsetting the U.S. government COVID-19 vaccine distribution program. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/HHS-Commercialization-Transition-Guide-508.pdf. Accessed August 22, 2023.
- Moderna clinical trial data confirm its updated COVID-19 vaccine generates robust immune response in humans against widely circulating variants. https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2023/Moderna-Clinical-Trial-Data-Confirm-Its-Updated-COVID-19-Vaccine-Generates-Robust-Immune-Response-in-Humans-Against-Widely-Circulating-Variants/default.aspx. Accessed August 22, 2023.
- Novavax’s updated protein-based XBB COVID vaccine induced neutralizing responses against emerging subvariants, including EG.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6. https://ir.novavax.com/press-releases/2023-08-22-Novavaxs-Updated-Protein-based-XBB-COVID-Vaccine-Induced-Neutralizing-Responses-Against-Emerging-Subvariants,-Including-EG-5-1-and-XBB-1-16-6. Accessed August 22, 2023.
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