Moderna announced on Thursday (August 17, 2023) that initial study data has indicated the effectiveness of its updated COVID-19 vaccine against the “Eris” and “Fornax” subvariants in humans.
The company anticipates that once it receives approval from health regulatory bodies in the United States, Europe, and other regions, the updated vaccine will be ready for distribution in the upcoming weeks, timed for the fall vaccination campaign.
Moderna, along with other COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers like Novavax, Pfizer, and its German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE), has developed modified versions of their vaccines targeting the XBB.1.5 subvariant.
Earlier the same day, Pfizer disclosed that its updated COVID-19 vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, demonstrated neutralizing activity against the Eris subvariant in a study conducted on mice.
Eris, also known as EG.5, shares similarities with the XBB.1.5 subvariant and belongs to a sub-lineage of the prevailing Omicron variant.
Based on recent government data, EG.5 accounted for more than 17% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Additionally, infections caused by the Fornax subvariant, officially referred to as FL 1.5.1, are increasing across the nation.
While COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the U.S. have risen by over 40% compared to the low numbers seen in June, they remain more than 90% lower than the peak levels experienced during the Omicron outbreak in January 2022.
The World Health Organization has designated EG.5 as a “variant of interest,” indicating that it requires closer monitoring due to mutations that could potentially enhance its transmissibility or severity.
