Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) announced on Monday that the biotech is working to develop a coronavirus vaccine booster shot to protect against the COVID mutation strain first discovered in South Africa. This strain has worried public health officials because early data suggests that it is more transmissible and less likely to be affected by available vaccines.
In a study conducted by Moderna in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the researchers concluded that the company's current vaccine appears to produce an immune response against both variant strains discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa. However, researchers found that the shot may be less effective against the South African mutation. The study has not been peer reviewed.
In order to further protect against the highly transmissible strain, the company is working to produce a booster vaccine candidate that will potentially aid effective immune system responses against it and possible future variants.
"As we seek to defeat the COVID-19 virus, which has created a worldwide pandemic, we believe it is imperative to be proactive as the virus evolves," said Stephane Bancel, chief executive offer, in a statement.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) researchers also determined earlier this month that its vaccine made in collaboration with BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX) was effective against the two highly transmissible mutant strains of the virus, but that the shot may be less effective against the South African strain.
It is common for viruses to mutate overtime, and with nearly 100 million cases worldwide since the pandemic began, the coronavirus has a chance to evolve with each new infection. Scientists are concerned that the coronavirus' uncontrolled spread has fuelled the rapid development of new variants, which may challenge developing vaccines and treatments. This is part of the many unknowns about the virus that has been circulating the world for just over a year.
Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined in a study that the new variant from the U.K. could become the dominant strain in the United States by March. Other strains including the South African, Brazilian and one first discovered in the U.S. have also been detected in the nation with over 25 million confirmed infections.