Dec, 24: Pharma major AstraZeneca on Friday said that a Pre-clinical study has concluded that its antibody combination Evusheld for the prevention of coronavirus infection has been found to have retained neutralising activity against the Omicron variant. So the Company is working with Oxford University to produce a vaccine for the Omicron coronavirus variant, joining other vaccine-makers who are looking to develop the variant-specific vaccine.
“Together with Oxford University, we have taken preliminary steps in producing an Omicron variant vaccine, in case it is needed and will be informed by emerging data,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. Oxford did not immediately respond to any official declarations though.
A lab-study last week found that AstraZeneca’s antibody cocktail Evushield retained neutralising activity against the Omicron variant.
Vaccine makers Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna also previously said they were working on Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna said hopes to start clinical trials early next year.
