Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Moderna Finds Third Vaccine Shot Boosts Protection Against Omicron
The Washington Post: Moderna Says Booster Protects Well Against Omicron Coronavirus Variant
Vaccine manufacturer Moderna said Monday that a booster dose of its coronavirus vaccine significantly raised antibody levels against the omicron variant, amid growing concerns about its rapid spread in the United States. A booster dose of Moderna’s vaccine — half the dose used in the original shots for adults — increased antibody levels against omicron by 37 times, the company said in a statement, citing preliminary data. Those antibodies “should provide some good level of protection as we go into the holiday season,” Paul Burton, Moderna’s chief medical officer, said in an interview. (Pietsch, 12/20)
NBC News: Moderna Says Covid Booster Effective Against Omicron, But Will Still Develop New Shot
The drug company said its currently FDA-approved 50 microgram booster was found to increase neutralizing antibody levels against omicron 37-fold compared to pre-boost levels. Meanwhile, it found that a 100 microgram booster dose gave an 83-fold increase in neutralizing antibody levels. The company said it would still be working to develop an omicron-specific booster, however, with the shot expected to advance into clinical trials in early 2022.(DaSilva, 12/20)
And Moderna has halted its patent dispute with the U.S. government —
Stat: Moderna Pauses Bitter Dispute With The NIH Over Covid-19 Vaccine Patents
Moderna has halted a rancorous patent dispute with the U.S. government over assigning credit for its Covid-19 vaccine, saying the ongoing quarrel “could interfere with further discussions aimed at an amicable resolution” with the National Institutes of Health. The move comes amid intensifying complaints that many vaccine makers are failing to make their intellectual property available so that still other companies can produce vaccines needed for a global eradication campaign. Moderna, which recently projected $18 billion in vaccine sales this year, has been a particular focus of criticism because U.S. taxpayers provided $2.5 billion to help develop the shot. (Silverman, 12/19)
Also —
Modern Healthcare: Pfizer, Moderna CEOs Top Modern Healthcare's Most Influential List
COVID-19 vaccines teased hope of a return to normal while igniting a fierce debate concerning the government’s and private employers’ authority to mandate measures aimed at ending a generational public health crisis. Pfizer, Moderna and BioNTech produced vaccines for the deadliest global outbreak in the last century, which is why Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel top Modern Healthcare's Most Influential People in Healthcare in 2021. Pfizer's influence and scope gave Bourla an advantage over Bancel. Meanwhile, vaccine mandates exacerbated underlying political tensions, evoking rancorous opposition. (12/18)
