Moderna: New Booster Effective Against Latest Variant

September 6, 2023 Coronavirus, Medicine

Moderna on Wednesday said clinical trial data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine will likely be effective against the highly-mutated BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus that has raised fears of a resurgence of infections.

The company said its shot generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies in humans against BA.2.86, which is being tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We think this is news people will want to hear as they prepare to go out and get their fall boosters,” Moderna head of infectious diseases Jacqueline Miller said in an interview, adding that the data should also help reassure regulators.

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NEW: Early lab-based results from Moderna show updated COVID-19 booster generated a nearly nine-fold increase in antibodies against BA.2.86. https://t.co/WOmFyetccy

— ABC News (@ABC) September 6, 2023