Moderna Bivalent Booster Candidate Demonstrates Superior Antibody Response Against Omicron

Moderna released new data concerning its Omicron-containing bivalent COVID booster candidate, messenger RNA (mRNA)-1273.214, on June 8th, 2022. A 50-µg booster dose of the candidate exhibited a superior neutralizing antibody response against the Omicron variant one month after administration relative to the original mRNA-1273 vaccine booster. The bivalent booster raised neutralizing geometric mean titers (GMT) against Omicron approximately eight-fold above baseline levels.

According to a company press release, the booster candidate met all pre-specified endpoints of the Phase II/III clinical trial, including superiority to the Spikevax booster. The candidate was generally well-tolerated in the 437 study participants, who had side effects comparable to a booster dose of mRNA-1273.

Among seronegative participants one month after administration, the neutralizing GMT against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 for mRNA-1273.214 was 5977, compared to a GMT of 5649 for mRNA-1273. Among Omicron-specific variants, mRNA-1273.214 had a GMT of 2372 and mRNA-1273 a GMT of 1473. Additionally, binding antibody titers were found to be significantly higher against all other variants of concern for mRNA-1273.214 relative to mRNA-1273.

"We are thrilled to share the preliminary data analysis on mRNA-1273.214, which is the second demonstration of superiority of our bivalent booster platform against variants of concern and represents an innovation in the fight against COVID," said Stéphane Bancel, CEO, Moderna, in a company press release. "Looking at these data alongside the durability we saw with our first bivalent booster candidate, mRNA-1273.211, we anticipate more durable protection against variants of concern with mRNA-1273.214, making it our lead candidate for a Fall 2022 booster.”

According to the release, Moderna plans to submit preliminary data and analysis to regulators with hopes that the booster will be available by late summer.

Source: Moderna