Pharmaniaga Berhad : PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN CHILE SHOWS BOOSTER DOSE OF SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINE ACTIVATE CELLULAR IMMUNITY AGAINST OMICRON VARIANT

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PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM THE

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN CHILE SHOWS BOOSTER DOSE OF SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINE ACTIVATE CELLULAR IMMUNITY AGAINST OMICRON VARIANT

SHAH ALAM, 1 JANUARY 2022 - Scientists in Chile have announced1 that preliminary results from an on-going study have shown that Sinovac vaccine booster can activate cellular immunity against Omicron variant, in subjects who previously received 2 doses of the vaccine as primary series.

The study is being carried out by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC) and led by Professior Dr Alexis M. Kalergis, Director of Immunology and Immunotherapy Millennium Institute. The study's objective is to evaluate whether the immunity activated by the Sinovac booster dose is able to recognise the new variant, Omicron.

According to Dr Alexis, the subjects who were vaccinated with the booster dose of Sinovac possess T cells that are activated against the Omicron variant in a similar way to the original strain, indicating that the vaccine contains antigens that are shared with the Omicron variant.

He added that study results show that T lymphocytes when come in contact with the Omicron variant, are capable of producing gamma interferon which have potent virus killing ability.

Dr. Susan Bueno , UC Academic and Scientific Director of the CoronaVac Scientific- Clinical Study in Chile, said "It is very likely that this partial recognition of the variants is contributing to the effectiveness of the vaccine at the population level, in the extent to which these variants have circulated in our country. In fact, population data have shown that vaccines have worked to date to control the variants that have emerged ".

Meanwhile, the researchers in Chile are also preparing the study of the antibody response against the new variant in collaborative work between the Catholic University, the University of Chile, the La Jolla Institute of Immunology in California (USA) and Sinovac in China.

The new deadly Omicron (B.1.1.529) COVID-19 variant of concern (VoC), identified in South Africa and also detected in Europe and Asia has raised concern worldwide given the number of mutations and reports that it might spread even faster and evade antibodies from prior infection of the virus or vaccination.

1https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2021/12/24/1042099/estudio-uc-sinovac-omicron.html

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Sinovac COVID-19 booster shot has recently been approved by Drug Control Authority and currently available in selected private healthcare facilities, and for inquiries, please email to [e-mail].

Pharmaniaga Berhad is the leading pharmaceutical Company of Boustead Holdings Berhad group of companies, and together with Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, are the major shareholders of the Company.

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About Pharmaniaga Berhad

Pharmaniaga is the leading pharmaceutical company of Boustead Holdings Berhad Group of Companies, which together with the Armed Forces Fund Board, are the major shareholders of the Company. Listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia, Pharmaniaga's core businesses are generic pharmaceuticals manufacturing; research and development; marketing and sales; warehousing and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical products; supply, trading and installation of medical and hospital equipment as well as community pharmacy.

With a vision to be the premier Malaysian pharmaceutical company, Pharmaniaga is guided by its philosophy of 'Do It Right Always' and is empowered by its motto of Passion for Patients. Strengthened by nine manufacturing plants, nationwide logistics and distribution in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as products registered in 15 countries, Pharmaniaga Group is positioned to be a regional player in the international pharmaceutical arena.

Forward-looking statement

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial conditions, results of operations and business of the Group and certain plans and objectives of Pharmaniaga Berhad with respect to these items. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Issued for Pharmaniaga Group by Corporate Communications Department, Pharmaniaga Berhad. For media enquiries, please contact Dato' Zuhri Iskandar Kamarzaman, Corporate Services Deputy Director of Pharmaniaga Berhad at 03-3342 999 ext 434 or by email [e-mail].

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