BioNTech starts work on vaccine to fight new variant

BioNTech said this Monday (29), that it has started work on a vaccine to combat omicron, the new variant of the coronavirus detected in South Africa. It is not yet clear whether the company will have to rework the vaccine it developed in partnership with Pfizer against covid-19.

The development of an adapted vaccine is part of the company's standard procedure for new variants, said BioNTech, which produces immunizers along with Pfizer, said in a statement.

"The first steps to develop a potential new vaccine overlap with the research needed to assess whether a new dose is needed," he added.

The omicron variant carries a very high global risk of outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned today, as more countries reported cases, leading to border closures.

BioNTech said on Friday (26) that it expects more lab data in the next two weeks to help determine if there is a need for a specific omicron vaccine. Its rival, Moderna, has said it is working on a revamp of its covid-19 vaccine for future booster shots.

Text translated using artificial intelligence.