Arthur Widak | Photo only | Getty Images
Moderna’s new Covid vaccine triggered a strong immune response against BA.2.86, a heavily mutated Omicron variant that is being closely watched by health authorities, according to clinical trial data the biotech company released on Wednesday.
The updated vaccination resulted in an 8.7-fold increase in protective antibodies against BA.2.86, which were detected in low numbers nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously said the strain, also known as “Pirola,” may be better able to evade antibodies from previous infections and vaccinations, but new research also suggests the variant may be less immune invasive is as feared.
Moderna is the first company producing updated Covid vaccinations to release data on how its shot compares to BA.2.86. Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax are expected to bring new vaccines against another Omicron strain called XBB.1.5 to market within weeks, subject to possible approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Moderna’s trial results suggest the company’s vaccine will continue to be effective against newer variants of the virus as XBB.1.5 declines nationwide. Last month, Moderna also released clinical trial data suggesting its new vaccine provides protection against the now-predominant EG.5, or “Eris,” variant and another fast-spreading strain called FL.1.5.1.
“Together with our previously communicated results showing a similarly effective response against the EG.5 and FL.1.5.1 variants, these data confirm that our updated COVID-19 vaccine will continue to be an important protective tool heading into the fall “Vaccination season is beginning,” Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in a statement.
New vaccines are expected to hit the market as Eris and other Covid variants cause a surge in cases and hospitalizations across the country.
According to the latest data from the CDC, Covid hospitalizations rose 18.8% in the week ending August 19 and 87% over the past month. But those metrics remain below the levels we had when a surge strained hospitals last summer.
According to the latest data from the CDC, Eris accounted for 21.5% of all U.S. cases as of Saturday, while FL.1.5.1 accounted for 14.5%.
Last week, the CDC announced that BA.2.86 had been found in four U.S. states, but it is still so rare that it is not listed as a distinct strain in the CDC’s variant tracker.