Moderna announces new booster candidate has superior response versus Omicron
Moderna, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, announced new clinical data on its Omicron-containing bivalent COVID booster candidate, mRNA-1273.214, containing mRNA-1273 (Spikevax) and a vaccine candidate targeting the Omicron variant of concern.
A 50 µg booster dose of mRNA-1273.214 met all pre-specified endpoints including superior neutralizing antibody response (geometric mean ratio) against the Omicron variant one month after administration when compared to the original mRNA-1273 vaccine. The booster dose of mRNA-1273.214 was generally well-tolerated, with side effects comparable to a booster dose of mRNA-1273 at the 50 µg dose level.
"We are thrilled to share the preliminary data analysis on mRNA-1273.214, which is the second demonstration of superiority of our bivalent booster platform against variants of concern and represents an innovation in the fight against COVID," said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "Looking at these data alongside the durability we saw with our first bivalent booster candidate, mRNA-1273.211, we anticipate more durable protection against variants of concern with mRNA-1273.214, making it our lead candidate for a Fall 2022 booster. We are submitting our preliminary data and analysis to regulators with the hope that the Omicron-containing bivalent booster will be available in the late summer."
The mRNA-1273.214 50 μg booster dose was well-tolerated in the 437 study participants. The safety and reactogenicity profile of the mRNA-1273.214 50 μg booster dose was similar to that of mRNA-1273 50 μg dose when these vaccines were administered as a second booster dose.
In February 2021, Moderna announced its strategy to update booster candidates to address the ongoing evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including monovalent and bivalent candidates targeting multiple variants of concern. The Company's primary focus has been on the bivalent booster approach, which are boosters that address two viral strains simultaneously.
Results from the Company's Beta-containing bivalent booster candidate, mRNA-1273.211, announced in April 2022, demonstrated superiority against Beta, Delta and Omicron variants of concern one month after administration, with continued superiority that was durable against Beta and Omicron variants of concern six months after administration. Given the significantly higher antibody titers induced by mRNA-1273.214 compared to mRNA-1273, Moderna anticipates that antibody titers induced by mRNA-1273.214 will be more durable over time against Omicron as compared to mRNA-1273. Moderna will report data from Day 91 after vaccination later in the summer.
Moderna is planning to submit the interim analysis and data to regulators for review in the coming weeks.
