The drugmaker said its vaccine update for the fall has generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies in humans against BA.2.86, or Pirola, in clinical trials.
"These results demonstrate that our updated COVID-19 vaccine generates a strong human immune response against the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant,"
"Taken together with our previously communicated results showing a similarly effective response against EG.5 and FL.1.5.1 variants, these data confirm that our updated COVID-19 vaccine will continue to be an important tool for protection as we head into the fall vaccination season."
The BA.2.86 strain of COVID-19 has over 30 mutations, which has worried public health officials who fear that it could get around other vaccines meant for variants like Omicron.
"The emergence of BA.2.86, in addition to the growing prevalence of the EG.5 and FL1.5.1 variants, underscores the need for vaccination with an updated COVID-19 vaccine, which can help reduce severe disease and hospitalizations caused by current circulating strains,"
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