This adapted vaccine is made up half of the original serum against the coronavirus developed by the two companies while the other half is adjusted to the two sub-variants of the Omicron strain BA.4 and BA.5, which are currently responsible for the majority infections worldwide.
According to the two manufacturers, preclinical data have shown that a boost with this vaccine induces a “strong neutralizing antibody response” against BA.4/BA.5 as well as against earlier Omicron subvariants and against Original SARS-Cov-2.
The European regulator had previously announced its intention to rule on September 1 on the application for approval by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna for their new vaccine targeting the BA.1 line of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. In parallel, the EMA is analyzing applications for approval of vaccines from BioNTech and Pfizer targeting the latest BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. On Monday, the two companies also submitted a request to this effect to the FDA, the American Medicines Agency (FDA).