The Mainz vaccine manufacturer Biontech is looking at the new variant of the coronavirus found in southern Africa in tests and is expecting findings in two weeks at the latest.
"We can understand the concerns of experts and immediately initiated investigations into variant B.1.1.529," said the company in Mainz on Friday on request.
The variant differs significantly from the variants observed so far, since it has additional mutations on the spike protein.
The data from ongoing laboratory tests would provide information on whether an adaptation of the vaccine would be necessary if this variant spreads internationally.
Biontech also announced that it had made preparations months ago together with its US partner Pfizer to adapt the vaccine within six weeks in the event of a so-called escape variant of the virus and to deliver the first batches within 100 days.
To this end, clinical studies with “variant-specific vaccines” have been started in order to collect data on safety and tolerability.
In the event of an adjustment, these could be presented to the authorities as sample data.
An escape variant is a virus variant that defies the effects of the vaccines currently available.