Study Finds Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine Effective Against COVID-19 Mutation

A study carried out by the University of Texas Medical Branch and Pfizer has found that the drugmaker’s COVID-19 vaccine still protects against a viral mutation that’s raised concerns around the world, though more research is needed.

The study published in bioRxiv pitted Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine against the “N501Y” spike protein mutation present in the new UK and South African coronavirus strains that have spread rapidly and induced panic internationally. Fortunately, the researchers saw that there was “no reduction in neutralization activity” against the mutation.

While the finding is good news, the study must still be peer-reviewed and more research remains to be done. The scientists noted that their finding is limited because they only evaluated the vaccine against one mutation, not the full set of spike mutations found in the two strains. Still, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the early finding is promising.

“We are encouraged by early in vitro study findings that show the sera from people who have received the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectively neutralized a SARS-CoV-2 virus having one of the mutations also found in two highly transmissible strains,” he said. Bourla had previously predicted that the vaccine would be effective against the strains.

The researchers called for ongoing monitoring of coronavirus mutations and preparations for particularly dangerous viral strains, noting that a future mutation could warrant vaccine changes.

BioNTech CEO Uğur Şahin has said that an overhaul of the vaccine to address a deadly strain, if needed, could be done in approximately six weeks.

The FDA said Friday that it is keeping watch on the viral mutations’ potential impact on authorized COVID-19 molecular tests, warning that false negative results can occur if a mutation occurs in the part of the virus’ genome a test assesses. The agency said, however, that it believes the mutations are likely to have a minimal impact on overall testing accuracy.

Access the bioRxiv study here: bit.ly/39gs5g6. — James Miessler