Maryland-Based Vaccine Manufacturer Developing COVID-19 Vaccine That Targets Omicron Variant

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WJZ/AP) —  Novavax, a vaccine shaper based successful Gaithersburg, Maryland, has started processing a caller COVID-19 vaccine that targets the familial series of the Omicron variant.

The Omicron strain — archetypal discovered successful South Africa — has much than 50 mutations and has alarmed wellness officials worldwide.

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It is not yet wide however effectual the vaccines are against it. “What we’re seeing is simply a fig of mutations to the spike macromolecule truthful I deliberation that’s wherefore determination is simply a widened level of concern,” Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa told WJZ connected Monday. “We’re inactive going to person to decipher what does that mean exactly. We’re not definite yet if it makes this peculiar mentation much transmissible. That’s what scientists are truly racing astir the timepiece to find out.”

The Novavax two-dose changeable is made with lab-grown copies of the spike macromolecule that coats the coronavirus. That’s precise antithetic than different wide utilized vaccines that present familial instructions for the assemblage to marque its ain spike protein. The institution said its vaccine has shown efficacy against variants similar Delta.

“Experience with our vaccine has demonstrated that it tin support and neutralize against disease-causing variants recovered successful the existent world, including wide responses observed successful our objective trials against variants specified arsenic Delta,” the institution said successful a statement. “These information pb america to judge that our vaccine is apt to supply extortion against caller and emerging variants.”

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But the institution said it volition beryllium acceptable to trial a caller attraction conscionable for the Omicron variant.

“Specifically successful effect to the emerging Omicron coronavirus variant, Novavax has already initiated improvement of a caller recombinant spike macromolecule based connected the known familial series of B.1.1.529 and volition person it acceptable to statesman investigating and manufacturing wrong the adjacent fewer weeks,” the institution said.

Novavax and Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SII) precocious received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the vaccine in Indonesia and the Philippines, and the companies person filed for EUA successful India and for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Novavax besides announced regulatory filings for its vaccine successful the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the European Union and with the WHO. Additionally, Novavax and SK bioscience announced a Biologics License Application (BLA) submission to MFDS in South Korea.

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Novavax expects to taxable the implicit bundle to the U.S. FDA by the extremity of the year.

CBS Baltimore Staff