Pfizer & BioNTech start trials of vaccine against omicron

Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the start of clinical trials of an updated version of the vaccine against the omicron variant of coronavirus, Report informs citing Pfizer.

Up to 1,420 people aged 18 to 65 will take part in the research.

Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE have announced the initiation of a clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an Omicron-based vaccine candidate in healthy adults 18 through 55 years of age, Report informs referring to Pfizer’s website.

The study will have three cohorts examining different regimens of the current Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or an Omicron-based vaccine. The study will draw upon some participants from the companies’ Phase 3 COVID-19 booster study and is part of their ongoing efforts to address Omicron and determine the potential need for variant-based vaccines.

The study will evaluate up to 1,420 participants across the three cohorts:

Cohort #1: Received two doses of the current Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 90-180 days prior to enrollment; in the study, participants will receive one or two doses of the Omicron-based vaccine.

Cohort #2: Received three doses of the current Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 90-180 days prior to enrollment; in the study, participants will receive one dose of the current Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or the Omicron-based vaccine.

Cohort #3: Vaccine-naïve participants will receive three doses of the Omicron-based vaccine.