Moderna announced that its updated COVID-19 vaccine is likely effective against the highly-mutated BA.2.86 subvariant. The vaccine produced an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against BA.2.86.
This development is crucial as BA.2.86 has garnered attention due to fears of a resurgence of infections. The company is awaiting regulatory approval for the updated vaccine, expected later this month or in early October.
Moderna, along with Novavax and Pfizer with BioNTech, has adapted its vaccines to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant.
While European regulators have approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for this variant, no official announcement has been made regarding Moderna’s updated vaccine.
Experts believe that despite the emergence of BA.2.86, widespread vaccination and prior infection should prevent a severe disease and death wave.