Latest News: Stephen Bancel, CEO of Moderna in an interaction with the CNBC said that new viral strains of the COVID-19 are likely to emerge within the next six months and urged to countries to procure the two-dose vaccines for COVID-19 as the southern hemisphere heads towards winter from June.
Moderna CEO
“New variants of concern continue to emerge around the world. And we believe that over the next six months, as the Southern Hemisphere enters the fall and winter, we could see more variants of concern emerge,” said the CEO.
These comments from the CEO came after Moderna announced its third dose for either of its vaccines, including the experimental vaccine in development that might increase immunity of patients against those in UK and South Africa. The boosters’ shots given were identified to increase antibodies against the original version of COVID-19.
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The data comes from a sample trial involving 40-persons inoculated with the two-booster shots of Moderna vaccines and the new third booster shot of the vaccine that is developed to protect the body against the South African viral variant known as mRNA-1273.351. Moderna is studying to combine both the shots of existing and new vaccines.
Steve Bancel said that Moderna is indeed encouraged to learn that the booster strategy is effective. Boosters are well tolerated with side effects similar to that of the second dose of vaccines. The new South African and Brazilian variants are found to be resistant to the existing vaccines.
Demand for Moderna’s vaccines is expected to rise up by 4.3% to $19.2 billion on Thursday, with demands mainly from those who are willing to return back to normalcy as soon as possible, through rapid vaccinations. The deals for booster doses, anticipation for a new wave of infections, expecting mutated variants have led to nations stockpiling doses. And, this has led Moderna and other vaccine companies like Pfizer to tune-up their production and supplies.
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