Novavax to Develop Omicron-Specific COVID-19 Shot

Novavax is throwing two punches at Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant that’s sparking fresh waves of travel restrictions: evaluating how well its lead COVID-19 vaccine candidate NVX-CoV2373 targets the new variant and creating a new vaccine made specifically to target the highly mutated virus.

“The initial steps required to manufacture an Omicron-specific spike are underway and GMP manufacturing in a commercial facility is anticipated in January 2022,” the company said. “Lab-based assessment of a new strain-matched nanoparticle vaccine will begin within a few weeks.”

The current vaccine (known as Covavax outside the U.S.), which is yet to be authorized in the U.S., is effective against the Alpha, Beta and Delta strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 infection, the company said.

Novavax will determine whether antibodies from people vaccinated with Covavax can also neutralize the Omicron variant. The company said it will probably know the answer within a few weeks and will also begin testing whether antibodies from previously vaccinated individuals can neutralize the Omicron variant.