Biotech Sector's Response to Omicron Panic Should be Swift and Effective - Seite 2

Beyond its work with vaccines, BioVaxys has also been developing a new test called CoviDTH that screens for a T cell-mediated immune response to SARS-CoV-2 along with WuXi Biologics—a $63-billion Chinese biomanufacturing partner.

The test is based on Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity ("DTH") technology, and is the world's first low cost, disposable, diagnostic to identify a T-cell immune response to the presence of SARS-CoV-2. So far, data suggests DTH testing may even be more accurate than current methods, by measuring the immune system's active infection response.

OSU will conduct animal studies with BVX-0320, BioVaxys' haptenized SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein vaccine and a new haptenized SARS-CoV-1 S1 protein vaccine from BioVaxys. Initial data are expected by Spring 2022. 

Also in early 2022, Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) is stating that its Omicron COVID-19 vaccine could be ready to go, if it is needed.

"The remarkable thing about the mRNA vaccines, Moderna platform is we can move very fast," said Moderna's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Paul Burton, in an interview with the BBC.

According to Burton, Moderna should know whether their current COVID-19 vaccine can provide protection against Omicron in the "next couple weeks." However, he suspects that Omicron may escape that protection given the 30 mutations of the variant — nine of which are known to be "associated with immune escape."

In the meantime, Moderna recently announced a supply agreement with the UK for an additional 60 million doses of its current vaccine, with 29 million doses in 2022, and 31 million doses in 2023.

"We thank the UK government for their support in this supply agreement for our mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and booster candidates, if approved, in 2022 and 2023," said Stéphane Bancel, Moderna's Chief Executive Officer. "This agreement reflects the efforts of the UK government to address the ongoing pandemic and builds on our existing collaboration to protect people in the UK."

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) CEO Ugur Sahin told Reuters that his company should be able to adapt its coronavirus vaccine relatively quickly—and that over the next few weeks we'll see how urgently such an upgrade is needed.

"I believe in principle at a certain timepoint we will need a new vaccine against this new variant," said Sahin. "The question is how urgent it needs to be available. We anticipate that infected people who have been vaccinated will still be protected against severe disease."