A vial labelled “Novavax V COVID-19 Vaccine” is seen on this illustration taken January 16, 2022.
Dado Ruvic | Reuters
The Meals and Drug Administration licensed Novavax‘s up to date protein-based Covid vaccine for emergency use in folks ages 12 and up on Friday, paving the way in which for the shot to compete with Pfizer and Moderna‘s jabs this fall and winter.
Novavax’s vaccine targets the extremely contagious omicron subvariant JN.1, which started circulating extensively within the U.S. earlier this 12 months. JN.1 solely accounted for 0.2% of instances circulating nationwide as of this week, in line with the newest Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention knowledge.
Novavax manufactures protein-based vaccines, which can’t be shortly up to date to focus on one other pressure of the virus.
Regardless of that, the biotech firm has famous that its shot offers safety in opposition to descendants of JN.1 which are presently dominant within the U.S., together with KP.2.3, KP.3, KP.3.1.1 and LB.1.
“Our up to date vaccine targets JN.1, the ‘mother or father pressure’ of presently circulating variants, and has proven strong cross-reactivity in opposition to JN.1 lineage viruses,” Novavax CEO John Jacobs stated in a press release.
Novavax stated it expects its shot to be “broadly out there” in 1000’s of places throughout the U.S., together with retail and unbiased pharmacies and regional grocers.
Shares of Novavax rose greater than 8% on Friday following the announcement.
The FDA’s resolution comes solely every week after it authorized a brand new spherical of messenger RNA pictures from Pfizer and Moderna, which each goal one other offshoot of JN.1 referred to as KP.2. Final 12 months, the company licensed Novavax’s shot almost a month after clearing vaccines from its rivals, placing the corporate at an obstacle.
Public well being officers see Novavax’s vaccine as a useful different for individuals who do not wish to take mRNA pictures from Pfizer and Moderna, which use a more moderen vaccine technique to show cells the right way to make proteins that set off an immune response in opposition to Covid. Novavax’s shot, in the meantime, fends off the virus with protein-based expertise, a decades-old technique utilized in routine vaccinations in opposition to hepatitis B and shingles.
It is unclear how many individuals will get a brand new Covid shot this fall and winter.
Solely round 22.5% of U.S. adults acquired the newest spherical of pictures that got here out final fall, in line with CDC knowledge via early Could.
