Pfizer and BioNTech announce the first data of the clinical trial on the bivalent anti-Covid booster vaccine adapted to Omicron 4 and 5 in over 18. Data that define “positive”, reads a note. The sera collected from the participants 7 days after the administration of a booster dose of 30 micrograms of the vaccine showed “a substantial increase in the neutralizing antibody response” towards BA.4 / BA.5, the two US and German companies report. above the pre-recall levels “. These early results were highly anticipated, as the most up-to-date booster was approved on preclinical data and the outcome of previous trials.
The responses observed between individuals aged 18 to 55 and those aged over 55 (40 participants in each age group) are “similar,” Pfizer and BioNTech continue. The data suggest that the BA.4-5-adapted bivalent booster “should provide better protection against Omicron BA.4 / BA.5 sub-lineages than the original vaccine in younger and older adults.” The bivalent vaccine was “well tolerated” and early data showed a safety profile similar to that of the original vaccine. Further data measuring responses one month after receiving the updated Omicron 4-5 booster are expected in the coming weeks.
“Since the early days of the pandemic, we have been committed to transparently sharing data related to our Covid vaccines in the interest of public health,” said Albert Bourla, president and CEO of Pfizer. “We are pleased to see encouraging responses just one week after vaccination” with the bivalent booster adapted to Omicron 4 and 5 “in younger and older adults – he adds – These early data suggest that our bivalent vaccine should provide better protection against variants currently in circulation compared to the original vaccine and potentially help curb future spikes in cases this winter. ” These preliminary results, says Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, “are consistent with our preclinical data showing a substantial increase in the neutralizing antibody response against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5”.