Moderna said its Covid-19 vaccine booster produced a “robust” antibody response against the highly contagious delta variant, consistent with details of a study released Thursday with the company’s second-quarter income statement . In a phase two trial, Moderna is testing a 50-microgram dose of three vaccine booster candidates in previously vaccinated individuals. The booster shots produced a promising immune reaction against three variants, including delta, with antibody levels approaching those seen in previously unvaccinated people that received two 100-microgram doses, the corporate said.
The data has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication, it said. The new data on boosters comes because the delta variant spreads across several countries, including us. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the variant is as contagious as chickenpox and should make older people sicker, albeit they’ve been fully vaccinated. In slides that accompanied the income statement Thursday, Moderna said it expects the variant will cause a rise in breakthrough infections, which occur in vaccinated individuals.
“While we see durable Phase 3 efficacy through 6 months, we expect neutralizing titers will still wane and eventually impact vaccine efficacy,” the corporate said. “Given this intersection, we believe dose 3 booster will likely be necessary before the winter season.” People within the U.S. are already finding ways to secure booster shots amid concerns about delta. Still, the planet Health Organization on Wednesday called on wealthy nations to prevent the distribution of Covid booster shots, citing vaccine inequity around the world.
Moderna also said Thursday the end of its phase three study found the two-dose vaccine was 93% effective, with efficacy “remaining durable” through six months after the second dose. By comparison, Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine efficacy declined to around 84% six months after the second shot.
Moderna, which was founded in 2010, was the second company to realize U.S. authorization for its Covid vaccine behind Pfizer-BioNTech. Moderna’s Covid vaccine generated $4.2 billion in sales within the three months ended June 30, consistent with the income statement . The company said it aims to supply 800 million to 1 billion Covid vaccine doses this year. it’s signed vaccine contracts worth $20 billion in sales this year and has agreements worth $12 billion in 2022.
