CEO of Modena Biontech
Less production of neutralizing antibodies to prevent infection
Started clinical trial of improved vaccine this spring
A new vaccine (mRNA 1273.351) that has a strong preventive effect against mutant viruses in South Africa is soon developed by the American company Modena, which is selling the Corona 19 vaccine, and is entering clinical trials this spring with the aim of launching next spring.
Bioentech, a German company that jointly developed the COVID-19 vaccine with Pfizer, has also started to develop an improved vaccine targeting mutant viruses in South Africa.
In an interview with CNBC on the 25th (local time), Stefan Bancel Modena, CEO, said, “The commercially available vaccine (mRNA 1273) produced more than a level of neutralizing antibodies that could protect the inoculum against the South African mutant virus, but the amount It is only one-sixth of the existing and British mutant viruses, so the period of immune protection may be short, especially in the elderly.”
Neutralizing antibodies attach to the virus’s spike protein and prevent the virus from penetrating into human cells.
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“It is a problem that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will confirm, but it is not clear whether efficacy studies will be needed,” said Bancel CEO. “Since the new vaccine uses the same chemicals and manufacturing process as the commercially available vaccine, the product is very similar. I said. He added, “Corona 19 virus is likely to stay with humans forever like the seasonal flu virus. It is highly likely that a new vaccine that has enhanced immunity against the mutant virus should be given regularly like a flu vaccine.”
The name of the new vaccine mRNA 1273.351 is a commercially available vaccine mRNA 1273 (a vaccine targeting the B.1.273 strain of Corona 19 virus), with the ending 351 of the lineage name B.1.351 of the South African mutant virus.
Ugur Sahin, CEO of Bioentech, a German company that jointly developed the COVID-19 vaccine with Pfizer, said, “We will be able to develop an improved vaccine that responds to the mutant virus within 6 weeks.” “We are talking about what level of clinical trials and safety verification are needed to obtain approval.” He predicted, “You may get a booster dose that is effective against the mutant virus 6 to 9 months after you inoculate as many people as possible.”
South African-Brazilian mutant virus has a common point of mutation (E484K, N501Y, D614G) among 1,273 amino acids of Spike protein that adheres to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in human cells. have. These mutations allowed the virus to attach more tightly to the ACE2 receptor, increasing the rate of infection and infection. In particular, the E484K mutation, which is not found in the British mutant virus, is raising concerns by lowering the neutralizing efficacy of the antibody.
/ Reporter Lim Woong-jae [email protected]
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