Novavax Shares Surge as New Covid Vaccine Shows Broad Immune Response
Novavax, a biotech company, witnessed a significant jump in its shares on Tuesday after announcing positive results from small animal trials of its new Covid vaccine. The vaccine demonstrated a broad immune response against the current dominant Eris variant and another fast-spreading strain of the virus.
The updated shot specifically targets the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which is slowly declining nationwide. However, the trial results suggest that the vaccine may still be effective against newer Covid variants, including Eris and XBB.1.16.6, both of which are also descendants of omicron.
Novavax’s vaccine, along with new shots from Pfizer and Moderna, is expected to roll out in the United States within weeks, subject to approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While Pfizer and Moderna have also released initial trial results that indicate the effectiveness of their vaccines against Eris, only Moderna has data on humans.
Filip Dubovsky, Novavax’s president of research and development, expressed confidence in their updated Covid vaccine. He stated, “We have a lot of confidence in our updated Covid vaccine and are working diligently with global regulatory bodies to ensure our protein-based vaccine is available this fall.”
Eris, also referred to as EG.5, currently accounts for 17.3% of all cases, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The World Health Organization has designated Eris as a “variant of interest” to monitor any potential mutations that could increase its severity.
Another variant, XBB.1.16.6, is also starting to surge and represents 8% of all cases nationwide, as reported by the CDC. Although these variants are causing a slight uptick in hospitalizations and cases in the U.S., the numbers remain below the peak experienced last summer.
As Novavax’s vaccine and the new shots from Pfizer and Moderna progress toward potential approval, hopes are high for a strengthened defense against the evolving Covid variants. The availability of effective and updated vaccines is crucial in mitigating the impact of the virus and reducing its transmission in communities nationwide.