Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Showed Immune Response, Protection Against Variants

Novavax Inc NVAX announced preclinical and clinical data on its recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, directed against the SARS-CoV-2 Beta (B.1.351) variant identified in South Africa.
The vaccine candidate is advancing in two Phase 2 studies, including a Phase 2b trial in South Africa.
The company said testing of blood serum of random thirty participants of a Phase 2 trial who had received both doses of NVX-CoV2373 revealed robust antibody responses to the original version of the coronavirus as well as against the Alpha variant first found in the U.K. and the Beta variant.
However, the response against the Beta variant was slightly less, Novavax said.
The company will conduct further clinical testing of the Beta-focused vaccine in the fall of 2021.
Novavax also said preclinical studies in mice and baboons found that a different vaccine specifically targeting the South African variant, dubbed Beta, produced immune response and protection.
Previously, Novavax's COVID-19 shot met the primary endpoint with a vaccine efficacy of 89.3% against mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 in Phase 3 trial conducted in the U.K.
Price Action: NVAX shares are up 6.16% at $222.60 in the premarket session on the last check Monday.