The new strain includes the mutations seen in the “delta” variant. At the same time, the combination of its mutations “represents a significant potential risk of accelerating the weakening of natural and vaccine-induced immunity,” the company noted.
“Moderna is already clinically studying two candidate polyvalent boosters that have been developed in anticipation of mutations similar to those that emerged in the omicron variant. The first candidate (mRNA-1273.211) includes several mutations present in the omicron strain, which were also present in the beta variant under consideration.The second multivalent candidate (mRNA-1273.213) includes many of the mutations present in the omicron strain, which were also present in the beta and delta variants, the report says.
Research data is expected in the coming weeks, the press service of Moderna said.
According to WHO, the new variant has the potential to spread faster.
In South African Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong, ten cases of infection with a new strain of COVID-19 have been identified, which may be more pathogenic than other variants of the coronavirus. It contains 32 mutations, some of which indicate its high transmissibility and resistance to vaccines, and has more changes in the spike protein than all other COVID-19 variants.
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