Biontech founder Uğur Şahin: "It makes sense to offer a booster after just three months"

In an interview with Der Spiegel, Biontech founder and boss Uğur Şahin spoke out in favor of refreshing sensations after just three months.

"If Omikron continues to spread, as it looks, it would make scientific sense to offer a booster after just three months," he said, pointing out that this is already being done in the UK.

"However, this decision is not ours."

Şahin also announced that this means that a fourth vaccination will be necessary in some respects next summer. One possibility is that the Omikron variant will prevail. "The fourth vaccination could also be a vaccine adapted to an Omikron variant."

Biontech is working on a vaccine adapted to the new variant, which could then possibly also be used for a fourth vaccination.

“It has not yet been decided whether we will even turn the key to full production.

At the moment there are different omicron variants on the way, and it is not yet clear which one will prevail and which one should then be in the vaccine, ”Sahin told Spiegel.

It will be a few more weeks before it is clear whether a new vaccine is even needed.

So far, one expects to have to produce at least four billion doses of the vaccine in 2022.

"Now we will think about whether there can be more," said Sahin.

New laboratory tests from Biontech / Pfizer

The background to the statements by Şahin are laboratory tests by Biontech and Pfizer, which were presented last Wednesday. For adequate protection against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, at least three doses of your product are necessary. However, Biontech / Pfizer assume that protection against serious illness continues to exist. A booster dose increases the antibody level enough to neutralize the omicron variant, it said. If necessary, an adapted vaccine can be made available from March, subject to official approval.

The two pharmaceutical companies had carried out laboratory tests to determine how well blood sera from vaccinated people and the antibodies they contain can neutralize the recently discovered omicron variant of the coronavirus.

They used an artificially produced form of the virus for their investigation.

Findings about the protective effect can be derived from the results, even if laboratory tests do not fully reflect the real conditions.

After two doses of the vaccine, the neutralization potential was accordingly reduced by 25 times compared to the wild type of the pathogen.

However, the T cells formed after the vaccination would not be affected by the mutations of the variant.

Therefore, "companies assume that people who have been vaccinated may still be protected against severe forms of the disease".

The preliminary laboratory data indicated that "the first line of defense" against the Omikron variant could be impaired after two vaccinations, but the third vaccination restored this protection, said the medical director and Biontech co-founder Özlem Türeci at an online press conference.

CEO Şahin did not specify a specific time when Biontech will decide on the need for a vaccine tailored to the new variant.

First of all, further results from laboratory tests and experience about the actual spread of the variant would have to be awaited in the next few weeks.

Biontech continues to work “at full speed” on adapting the vaccine to Omikron, assuming that this may be necessary.

The production will not be more complicated than with the current vaccine.

Biontech is in constant contact with the approval authorities with a view to the new variant studies.

Boost now instead of waiting for adjustment

In Şahin's view, it is more advisable for people who want to protect themselves against the omicron variant to get a boost now and not wait for a possible vaccine adjustment in a few weeks. In addition, if production starts up in March, the new vaccine will not immediately be available in large quantities. Biontech will probably first go into production with 25, 50 and 75 million cans.

According to Biontech and Pfizer, the booster dose increased the antibody level by 25 times. These antibody levels were associated with a high level of activity against both the wild-type virus and against previously emerged variants. "While two doses of the vaccine may still provide protection against severe disease, these initial data clearly show that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine," said Albert Bourla, chief executive of Pfizer.

The blood sera for the manufacturer's trial were taken three weeks after the second vaccination or four weeks after the third vaccination.

Data on the longevity of the antibody titers induced by the booster are currently still being collected.

According to Biontech, the first batches of an adapted vaccine could be delivered within 100 days if approved by the authorities.

The expected production quantities of four billion doses of the vaccine in 2022 would not change even with a necessary adjustment.