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Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX) said they initiated a phase 1 trial of a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine aimed at boosting SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses and enhancing immunity to COVID-19.
The candidate, BNT162b4, has T cells antigen mRNA encoding of novel coronavirus non-spike proteins that are highly conserved among many strains of SARS-CoV-2 and will be evaluated together with the company’s Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.
The companies added that the non-spike protein was selected based on BioNTech’s priorities and was developed as a vaccine candidate with the goal of enhancing T-cell immunity and increasing the persistence of immunity against COVID.
BNT162b4 will be evaluated in a US trial enrolling ~180 healthy people between the ages of 18 and 55 years, who have received at least three doses of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.
The pilot study will investigate different dose levels of BNT162b4 given in combination with 30-µg of the company’s Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine and will be compared to the 30-µg administration. dose of Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent COVID vaccine as booster.
The research is part of the company’s efforts to develop multiple vaccines with the goal of providing a potential vaccine against COVID-19.
BNTX +0.60% to $165.89 premarket Nov. 17
