After Pfizer raised its projected COVID-19 vaccine annual revenue to $34 billion, the drugmaker reported positive results for its modified booster and began testing a vaccine candidate intended for COVID-19 and flu.
1. Compared to its original vaccine formula, Pfizer's omicron-focused booster elicited a response with four times higher neutralizing antibody titers against omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. In the study, adults between 18 and 55 years old saw a 9.5-fold rise in neutralizing antibody titers compared to pre-booster levels, and people older than 55 reported a 13.2-fold rise. The results offset smaller studies that put the new vaccine's efficacy into question.
2. Pfizer and BioNTech launched a phase 1 trial for their combined flu and COVID-19 vaccine candidate using mRNA technology.
"By combining both indications in one vaccine approach, we aim to provide individuals with an efficient way to receive immunization against two severe respiratory diseases with evolving viruses that require vaccine adaptation," Uğur Şahin, MD, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said in a Nov. 3 statement.