Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Effective Against All Mutations Including Omicron

Novavax, a biotech company, has recently revealed that their Covid-19 vaccine generates an effective immune response against all forms of the virus and all circulating variants of Omicron. The unexpected data saw delivered to the US Food and Drug Administration's advisory panel convened to recommend booster vaccine plans for late this year.

Novavax: Covid-19 Vaccine that's Effective All-Around

(Photo : JEROEN JUMELET/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
A healthcare worker prepares a dose of Nuvaxovid vaccine from Novavax in Utrecht on March 15, 2022. - Unlike mRNA vaccines, Nuvaxovid does not need to be stored in ultra-low temperatures, giving it a logistical advantage in difficult-to-access regions

New data revealed by the biotech company indicates that its original formulation for a covid-19 vaccine seems to generate broad immune responses, which result in antibodies that display effective responses against all new omicron variants, including the most immune-evasive variant the BA.5 subtype.

Specifically, the data indicated that a booster shot of the Novavax vaccine generates a form of neutralizing antibody response to the variants of Omicron comparable to what was seen against the SARS-CoV-2 original strains during the peak of its Phase 3 trials, as reported by NewAtlas.

The biotech company firmly believes that their developed covid vaccine is likely more effective against the emerging virus variants compared to mRNA vaccines currently being used because it utilizes a different kind of technology. The Novavax vaccine is known as a protein subunit vaccine and its production initially involves cultivating the infamous coronavirus spike proteins in manufacturing facilities. The proteins are then assembled into nanoparticles designed to mimic the natural structure of the virus. These nanoparticles are then paired with adjuvants, or molecules that help boost the body's natural immune response.

The company claims that the unique structural features of their vaccine lead to the generation of a broad cross-neutralizing antibody that can better detect emerging variants of the virus. Backing up their hypothesis, Novavax also presented data from its newest formulation designed to more directly Omicrone BA.1 variants.

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Effectivity of the Novavax Protein Subunit Vaccine

The data presented suggests little difference in the antibody's response to Omicron variants when comparing the new and old vaccine formulations. The company argues that this indicates that the booster programs using the original formulation could be an effective strategy for later this year. On the other hand, ongoing trials with the Omicron-specific Novavax formulation should deliver results soon and the company says it is able to supply the interaction of the vaccine if necessary.

Peter Marks, director of the FDA's vaccine department explains that the department takes manufacturing very seriously and doesn't benchmark against other countries when it comes to the manufacturing of the vaccines. The department considered that they have a high standard, which is why they are often considered the gold standard, especially in the area of vaccines.

The biotech company's initial covid-19 vaccine faces a rocky road to authorization in the US. It was initially part of Operation Warp Speed in 2020, the first wave of US government funding that pushed for the development of covid-19 vaccines. Development challenges and hurdles in manufacturing have slowed things down in 2021, however, but by the end of the year, the novel vaccine began its distribution across the globe.