In the event that the current vaccines are not sufficiently effective against the Omicron variant, laboratories Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson (J & J) indicated on Monday that they had started working on a new version of their vaccine against the coronavirus. , like Moderna, more specifically targeting this new variant.
"There are still many unknowns" around the new variant detected in South Africa and considered "worrying" by the WHO, noted in an interview on the American channel CNBC the boss of Pfizer, Albert Bourla.
“We will know most of what there is to know within a few weeks.
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Versions against the Delta and Beta variants
In particular, tests must first be carried out to assess the effectiveness of current vaccines against Omicron.
But "if the (current) vaccine protects less and we need to create a new vaccine, we started working on it on Friday, we made our first DNA model, which is the first step in the development of a new one. vaccine, ”explained Albert Bourla.
Pfizer has already created in the past two new versions of its vaccine in less than a hundred days, against the Delta and Beta variants, which were ultimately not used.
If necessary, "in 95 days, we will have the new vaccine" against Omicron, assured the leader.
His group has the capacity to produce four billion doses as needed next year, he also said.
J & J for its part indicated in a press release "being in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of its vaccine against Covid-19 against variants", including Omicron.
At the same time, the group is "working on a vaccine more specific to Omicron, which it will develop if necessary".
Pfizer "very, very confident"
The laboratory "remains confident" in the immune response to its current single-dose vaccine against various variants, assured Mathai Mammen, in charge of research at Janssen, the J & J subsidiary developing the vaccine. But J&J will be able "quickly" to initiate clinical trials if necessary, he added. The Moderna laboratory, which also produces a vaccine against Covid-19, had already announced on Friday its intention to develop a specific booster dose for Omicron. The CEO of Pfizer also assures him to be "quite confident" in the vaccine currently distributed, "because we arrived at the right dosage from the start".
The anti-Covid pill developed by Pfizer to treat the disease, which has shown an effectiveness of 89% against hospitalizations and deaths during clinical trials, was also "developed with the idea" that mutations of the virus would appear. , noted Albert Bourla.
“I am very, very confident in the ability (of the pill) to work with all mutations, including Omicron,” he said.
“You have to keep in mind (…) that the situation is different when you have treatment” which reduces the number of people going to the hospital from ten to one, he added.
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Anti-covid vaccine
Pfizer-BioNTech
Video
Omicron variant
Health
Covid 19
Coronavirus
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