A nurse fills a syringe with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
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modern On Tuesday, a new version of the coronavirus vaccine caused stronger immune response The vaccine is more resistant to the virus than vaccines currently in late-stage trials.
The results come as Moderna competes with rivals Pfizer to get more shares COVID-19 Vaccine Market The company is trying to diversify its revenue streams after global demand for coronavirus products plummeted last year. Moderna’s current Covid vaccine, called Spikevax, is its only commercial product.
The biotech company’s new vaccine could offer a longer shelf life and easier storage than the COVID-19 vaccine.
Moderna’s new product is engineered to last longer when refrigerated. This could make it easier to distribute the vaccine around the world, especially in developing countries that may not have freezing capabilities. Moderna previously told CNBC it would achieve this by shortening the length of the mRNA strand in its vaccine.
The new vaccine is also a “key component” of Moderna’s combination vaccine against COVID-19 and influenza, the company said in a news release. Both Moderna and Pfizer say the convenience of getting protection against both viruses could encourage more people to get the coronavirus vaccine.
The Phase 3 trial followed about 11,400 people aged 12 and older in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Moderna’s new vaccine specifically targeted the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 as well as the original strain of the virus, eliciting a higher immune response than the company’s bivalent vaccine targeting those variants. The benefits were “most pronounced” among patients over 65, who are also at the highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
The most common side effects are injection site pain, headache, fatigue, muscle aches and chills, according to a release from the company. Overall, Moderna said its safety profile is similar to the approved vaccine Spikevax.
A detailed analysis of the late-stage trial results will be released Wednesday at Moderna’s vaccine event for investors. At the event, the company will highlight other parts of its pipeline.
Moderna is working on developing vaccines against influenza, cancer and other diseases. The company’s vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus is expected to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in May.
Moderna also said it plans to launch as many as 15 products over the next five years – a goal the company first outlined at its annual R&D Days in September.
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