Positive early results for new Covid booster from Pfizer/BioNTech

Corona-vaccine — FILED - Kathrin gets her booster vaccination with the new, adapted vaccine at the vaccination center in the Ring-Center Berlin. According to the company, the corona vaccine from Biontech and Pfizer, which has been adapted to the currently predominant omicron sub-variant BA.5, has delivered the first positive results in a clinical study. (to dpa: "Biontech: First positive study results on adapted vaccine") Photo: Annette Riedl/dpa

German biotech firm BioNTech SE and its US partner Pfizer Inc have announced positive early data from a new coronavirus booster adapted to the more transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.

Pfizer and BioNTech said onb Thursday that they had positive early data from the phase 2/3 study of their Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent Covid-19 vaccine booster in individuals 18 years and older.

Blood samples taken from participants seven days after administration of a booster dose of Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine showed a significant increase in neutralizing antibodies above pre-booster levels.

Similar responses were seen across individuals aged 18 to 55 years of age and those older than 55 years, the company said.

“These early data suggest that our bivalent vaccine is anticipated to provide better protection against currently circulating variants than the original vaccine and potentially help to curb future surges in cases this winter,” said Albert Bourla, chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer.

A booster dose of Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine has already received emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for individuals 12 years and older.