- Pfizer and BioNTech will require U.S. regulators to approve Covid-19 intensified injections within the next month.
- The two companies are developing a booster that targets the highly disseminated Delta variant.
- According to reports, clinical trials may start as early as August NBC Finance Channel.
- For more stories, please visit www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
The chief scientist of the drugmaker said on Thursday that Pfizer plans to require U.S. regulators to approve a booster dose of its Covid-19 vaccine within the next month. The spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Pfizer and BioNTech said on Thursday that they are developing a booster that specifically targets this highly disseminated variant.
Although the two companies stated that they believe the third two-dose vaccine that already exists may provide the “highest level” of protection against all currently known variants, they are developing an updated version to “remain vigilant.” NBC Finance Channel Report.
According to the media report, clinical research may begin as early as August, depending on the approval of the regulatory agency.
Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s Chief Science Officer, said that recently Report down inside Effectiveness of the vaccine in Israel Mainly due to infection in people who were vaccinated in January or February. The Ministry of Health said that the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing infections and symptomatic diseases fell to 64% in June.
“The Pfizer vaccine is very effective against the Delta variant,” Dorsten said in an interview with Reuters. But six months later, he said, “As predicted, as the antibodies weaken, there may be a risk of re-infection.”
Pfizer did not release the full set of data for Israel on Thursday, but said it would release it soon.
He emphasized that data from Israel and the United Kingdom show that even if antibody levels decrease, the effectiveness of vaccines against serious diseases remains around 95%.
The vaccine was developed by German partner BioNTech SE. In a clinical trial conducted by the two companies last year, its efficacy in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 was 95%.
Dolsten said that early data from the company’s own research showed that the third booster injection produced 5 to 10 times higher antibody levels than after the second injection, indicating that the third injection will provide promising protection.
He said that multiple countries in Europe and elsewhere have already contacted Pfizer to discuss enhanced doses, and some countries may start using them before potential US authorization.
Dorsten said that he believes that booster injections are particularly important in older people.
Since most parts of the world have not yet been vaccinated, boosters will promote increased demand for vaccines, so Dorsten said that Pfizer is looking for ways to increase production.
Pfizer’s goal is to produce 3 billion doses this year and 4 billion doses next year. Dolsten declined to give a precise forecast of how much the company can increase, but said: “We can increase it by 1 billion times in 22 years.”
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said that people may need a booster dose of the company’s vaccine every 12 months—similar to an annual flu shot. But some scientists question when or if such a lens is needed.
