Preliminary data from AstraZeneca indicates that third dose of its vaccine helps against omicron

AstraZeneca announced that preliminary data from one trial showed that its COVID-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, generated an increase in antibodies against the omicron variant and other mutations when given as a third booster dose.

The improvement of the immune response, also against the delta variant, was seen in a blood test of people who were previously vaccinated with Vaxzevria or an mRNA vaccine, the drug manufacturer said, adding that it would send this data to regulators around the world in view of the urgent need for doses of reinforcements.

AstraZeneca has developed the vaccine with researchers at the University of Oxford, and laboratory studies conducted last month found that a series of three doses of Vaxzevria increased blood antibody levels against omicron.

Thursday’s brief statement, which did not include specifics, was the first of AstraZeneca on the protective potential of Vaxzevria as a booster after a course of two injections of an mRNA-based vaccine or Vaxzevria. BioNTech-Pfizer makes vaccines based on mRNA technology, as does Moderna.

The company said the findings “adds to the growing body of evidence supporting Vaxzevria as a third-dose booster, regardless of initial vaccination schedules executed”.

The data on Vaxzevria’s potential as a booster comes from a comparative analysis in a trial testing a redesigned vaccine that uses vector technology but targets the now superseded beta variant.

AstraZeneca is trying to show that the Beta-specific vaccine also has potential against other variants and that more trial data is expected during the first half of the year.

Separately, the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca they began work last month on a vaccine specifically targeting omicron, although the drugmaker, as well as other firms in similar development projects, have said it was not yet clear whether such an update was needed.

A British trial in December found that injecting AstraZeneca it raised antibodies when given as a booster after the initial vaccination with its own or Pfizer’s injection, but that was before the explosive spread of the omicron variant.