MUMBAI: The emergence of the Omicron strain could lead drug companies scrambling to the drawing board to tweak their Covid-19 vaccine plans. US firm Novavax and Russia’s Gamaleya Institute said on Monday that they had initiated work on developing new versions of their respective vaccines adapted to the mutant strain. Pfizer and Moderna too said they were racing to tweak their vaccines.
Other companies that are expected to modify their vaccines include the Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals and the Hyderabad-based Bio E. Both were expected to launch their shots over the next few months.
Novavax said on Monday it had already initiated development of a new recombinant spike protein based on the known genetic sequence of B.1.1.529, and will have it ready to begin testing and manufacturing within the next few weeks. “We will continue to work with urgency to address this latest strain and the continued evolution of Covid-19,’’ a company official told TOI.
Experts believe there is a “high probability’’ that companies may need to go back to the drawing board, but will take a “final view’” based on the data on transmissibility, and efficacy of existing vaccines on the new variant.
“Today we do not know the effectiveness of existing vaccines against this virus. Companies must develop strategies to fight this virus by reinventing the vaccine against this novel sequence,” a domestic vaccine player said on condition of anonymity.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is backi-ng Sputnik V, said, “The Gamaleya Institute believes Sputnik V and Sputnik Light will neutralise Omicron as they have the highest effica-cy against other mutatio-ns. In case a modification is needed, we will provide several hundred million of Sputnik Omicron boosters by February 20.”
Companies attributed the confidence to adapt quickly to emerging strains on the technology platforms in use. “Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle technology allows us to adapt quickly to strain changes and lends itself to inducing broadly cross-neutralising antibodies based on the use of a full-length spike protein,” the company said.
Other companies that are expected to modify their vaccines include the Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals and the Hyderabad-based Bio E. Both were expected to launch their shots over the next few months.
Novavax said on Monday it had already initiated development of a new recombinant spike protein based on the known genetic sequence of B.1.1.529, and will have it ready to begin testing and manufacturing within the next few weeks. “We will continue to work with urgency to address this latest strain and the continued evolution of Covid-19,’’ a company official told TOI.
Experts believe there is a “high probability’’ that companies may need to go back to the drawing board, but will take a “final view’” based on the data on transmissibility, and efficacy of existing vaccines on the new variant.
“Today we do not know the effectiveness of existing vaccines against this virus. Companies must develop strategies to fight this virus by reinventing the vaccine against this novel sequence,” a domestic vaccine player said on condition of anonymity.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which is backi-ng Sputnik V, said, “The Gamaleya Institute believes Sputnik V and Sputnik Light will neutralise Omicron as they have the highest effica-cy against other mutatio-ns. In case a modification is needed, we will provide several hundred million of Sputnik Omicron boosters by February 20.”
Companies attributed the confidence to adapt quickly to emerging strains on the technology platforms in use. “Novavax’ recombinant nanoparticle technology allows us to adapt quickly to strain changes and lends itself to inducing broadly cross-neutralising antibodies based on the use of a full-length spike protein,” the company said.
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