Moderna studies showed its Covid vaccine retains neutralizing activity against emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2, according to the company’s press release. The vaccine neutralizes all key emerging variants, including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, first identified in the U.K and South Africa, respectively.
- Moderna’s study showed no significant impact on neutralizing titers against the B.1.1.7 variant relative to prior variants.
- The study showed a six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers with the B.1.351 variant relative to prior variants.
- Moderna notes that despite the reduction, neutralizing titer levels with B.1.351 remain above levels expected to be protective.
- The company will test an additional booster dose of its Covid vaccine to study the ability to further increase neutralizing titers against emerging strains.
- Moderna is also advancing an emerging variant booster candidate (mRNA-1273.351) against the B.1.351 variant identified in South Africa.
Moderna stock is currently gaining. MRNA: NASDAQ is up 10.07%
