What happened
Actions of Modern (NASDAQ: MRNA) jumped 8.3% on Thursday after biotechnology said it dosed the first participants in a study evaluating its new booster vaccines against coronavirus.
And
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is believed to offer some protection against all the most common variants of the coronavirus, including strains first identified in the UK and South Africa. However, biotechnology is testing whether a dose of reinforcement could provide even more protection, particularly for people who are more vulnerable to severe forms of the disease.
Moderna’s stock price rose sharply on Thursday, due to optimism about booster vaccines. Image source: Getty Images.
To do this, he will provide a single booster dose to 60 participants in his ongoing phase 2 study who have already been vaccinated with his COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273. Some participants will receive a candidate for specific reinforcement of the variant directed to the South African strain, while others will receive a dose that combines the reinforcement with the previously authorized vaccine from Moderna.
What now
If booster vaccines prove to be safe and provide an additional layer of protection against coronavirus variants, they can become an important weapon in the global battle against COVID-19. In the process, they would also give Moderna a significant new source of recurring revenue, especially if booster doses are needed annually or every six months.
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