Pfizer Claims Its Omicron-Adapted COVID-19 Boosters Are Better Than Current Vaccine

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced June 25th positive data evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of two Omicron-adapted COVID-19 vaccine candidates: one monovalent and the other bivalent, a combination of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and a vaccine candidate targeting the spike protein of the Omicron BA.1 variant of concern. 

A Substantially Higher Immune Response Against Omicron

Data from the Phase 2/3 trial found that a booster dose of both Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates elicited a substantially higher immune response against Omicron BA.1 as compared to the companies’ current COVID-19 vaccine. The robust immune response was seen across two investigational dose levels, 30 µg and 60 µg.

“As we’ve said since the early days of the pandemic, we will follow the science and adapt our own approaches as needed to help address COVID-19 as the virus evolves,” said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer. “Based on these data, we believe we have two very strong Omicron-adapted candidates that elicit a substantially higher immune response against Omicron than we’ve seen to date. We look forward to discussing these data with the scientific community and health authorities so we may rapidly introduce an Omicron-adapted booster as soon as possible if authorized by regulators.”

People Are Looking For Way to Better Fight the Coronavirus

Trying to improve their chances against the virus is very important to a lot of people. Last summer, Illinois residents who received the one dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine have become worried, because of the more contagious delta variant which emerged, and wanted to get a shot of a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, hoping it will increase their protection.

In spring 2021, Baxter BioPharma Solutions and Novavax have entered into a sterile manufacturing agreement that will see Baxter will provide commercial-scale manufacturing services to Novavax. Novavax is a Maryland-based biotech company, competitor to Pfizer and Moderna, that has opted for the traditional approach of vaccine development against COVID-19. 

The Maryland biotech’s protein-based vaccine is now in use around the world, but after a federal advisory group cleared the shot last month, 77% of unvaccinated U.S. adults said they wouldn’t get a traditional protein-based COVID-19 shot if one were available. The vast majority cited concerns over potential side effects, mirroring qualms they’ve had with COVID-19 shots overall throughout the vaccination campaign.  

More Than 1.200 Middle Aged People Participated in the Trial 

“The data show the ability of our monovalent and bivalent Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates to significantly improve variant-specific antibody neutralization responses,” said Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. “Omicron has newly evolving sublineages that have outcompeted BA.1 and exhibit a trend of increasing potential for immune escape. We will therefore remain vigilant and are prepared to rapidly adapt our Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates to emerging sublineages if epidemiological and laboratory data suggest.”

The Omicron adapted vaccine candidates (30 µg and 60 µg) studied in the Phase 2/3 trial in 1,234 participants 56 years of age and older elicited substantially higher neutralizing antibody responses against Omicron BA.1 when compared to the companies’ current COVID-19 vaccine. The monovalent Omicron-adapted vaccine 30 µg and 60 µg achieved a lower bound 95% confidence interval for GMR of >1.5, consistent with the regulatory requirement of super superiority. Demonstration of superiority against Omicron and safety are regulatory requirements for potential emergency use authorization of a variant-adapted vaccine.

Both Omicron-Adapted Vaccine Candidates Were Well-Tolerated in Participants

One month after administration, a booster dose of the Omicron-adapted monovalent candidates (30 µg and 60 µg) increased neutralizing geometric mean titers (GMT) against Omicron BA.1 13.5 and 19.6-fold above pre-booster dose levels, while a booster dose of the Omicron-adapted bivalent candidates conferred a 9.1 and 10.9-fold increase in neutralizing GMTs against Omicron BA.1. Both Omicron-adapted vaccine candidates were well-tolerated in participants who received one or the other Omicron-adapted vaccine.

In a SARS-CoV-2 live virus neutralization assay tested on sera from participants over 56 years of age and older, sera efficiently neutralized BA.4/BA.5 with titers approximately 3-fold lower than BA.1. Pfizer and BioNTech will continue to collect additional study data on Omicron BA.4/BA.5 over the coming weeks.

These results were shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) in advance of discussions with the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on June 28 and with the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) on June 30. The companies have also submitted additional data from their ongoing COVID-19 booster studies, including data on an additional dose of their current COVID-19 vaccine and Beta candidate, to further demonstrate the flexibility and potential benefit of mRNA-based vaccines.

About Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which is based on BioNTech’s proprietary mRNA technology, was developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries, and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries. Submissions to pursue regulatory approvals in those countries where emergency use authorizations or equivalent were initially granted are planned.

U.S. Indication & Authorized Use

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is FDA authorized under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 6 months of age and older.