Moderna has said that laboratory testing has shown that a booster shot of its Covid-19 vaccine can offer protection against the Omicron variant. A two-dose regimen generated low-levels of antibodies, while a 50-microgram booster dose increased neutralising antibodies by 37-fold. The company is also working to develop an Omicron-specific vaccine. The trials are expected to commence early next year, reported Reuters. 

Everest Medicines and Providence Therapeutics have announced that their Covid-19 vaccine PTX-COVID19-B has secured a recommendation to become a part of WHO Solidarity Trial Vaccines (STV) clinical trial. The vaccine received the endorsement by an independent advisory group. The STV trials are designed to expedite the evaluation of potential new vaccine candidates. The PTX-COVID19-B is an mRNA vaccine currently under Phase II development.

Russia’s Gamaleya Institute is expected to submit its latest clinical data of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine by the end of this month, a WHO official told Reuters. The vaccine was approved by Russia last year. However, it is yet to receive a green light from WHO or the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Gamaleya is seeking WHO emergency use listing and is expected to submit data and application in two parts. The process is slated to complete by the end of January next year.