Moderna: "Preventive Effect Against New Variants Including Delta"

Laboratory Test with 8 Participants

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Moderna announced on the 29th (local time) that its COVID-19 vaccine is effective in preventing various new variants, including the Delta variant.

However, since the test was conducted in a laboratory with 8 subjects rather than through clinical trials, it does not prove actual effectiveness.

According to CNBC and others, Moderna extracted serum from participants one week after administering two doses of the vaccine.

After testing immune responses to various variants, the company stated that "neutralizing antibodies were generated against all tested variants, including the Delta variant."

However, the level of neutralizing antibodies produced against the Delta variant was 2.1 times lower compared to the original COVID-19 virus. For the Eta variant first identified in Nigeria, it decreased by 4.2 times, and for the A.VOI.V2 variant first identified in Angola, it decreased by 8 times.

Regarding the reduced level of neutralizing antibodies, Moderna explained that it is "a sufficient level to prevent variant viruses."

Moderna's stock price surged more than 6% intraday on the New York Stock Exchange following the announcement.

CEO St?phane Bancel said, "The new data is encouraging," and added, "It has strengthened our confidence that the Moderna vaccine can protect vaccinated individuals from new variants."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.