BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Moderna’s two-pronged approach to combating emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

January 26, 2021 2:30 AM UTC

Moderna is taking a two-pronged approach to addressing potentially weakened vaccine protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants by evaluating an additional booster shot of its current vaccine — a solution that could apply to multiple mutants — and a new booster candidate designed against a specific variant.

In a tweet, Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the agency is considering regulatory pathways for authorized COVID-19 vaccines or other products that would require changes in response to emerging variants, but hasn’t announced specific plans. FDA has longstanding experience with mutating viruses through its oversight of flu vaccines, which are updated on an annual basis...