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What happened
Actions of Modern (NASDAQ: ARNM) jumped 8.3% on Thursday after biotechnology said it had dosed the first participants in a study evaluating its new coronavirus booster vaccine candidates.
So what
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is believed to offer some protection against all of the most common coronavirus variants, including strains first identified in the UK and South Africa. Yet biotechnology is testing whether a booster dose could offer even more protection, especially to people more vulnerable to severe forms of the disease.
Moderna’s share price rose sharply on Thursday amid optimism for its booster vaccines. Image source: Getty Images.
It will do this by providing a single booster dose to 60 participants in its ongoing Phase 2 study who have already been vaccinated with its COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273. Some participants will receive a variant-specific booster candidate targeting the South African strain, while others will receive a dose combining the booster with Moderna’s previously licensed vaccine.
Now what
If booster vaccines prove safe and provide an extra layer of protection against coronavirus variants, they could become an important weapon in the global battle against COVID-19. In the process, they would also give Moderna a significant new source of recurring revenue, especially if callbacks are needed on an annual basis or every six months.
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