Survey and interview: What COVID-19 vaccine and drug makers have to say about Omicron

Factbox: What COVID-19 vaccine and drug makers have to say about Omicron The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has sparked fears that existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment could be less effective against it. Reuters Reuters

Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has sparked fears that existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment could be less effective against it.

South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases said early epidemiological data suggested Omicron was able to evade some immunity, but existing vaccines should still protect against severe disease and death.

Here's what companies that make COVID-19 vaccines and drugs have said:

MODERNA (MRNA.O)

CEO Stéphane Bancel has warned that COVID-19 vaccines are unlikely to be as effective against the Omicron variant. read more

The company has said a new vaccine tailored for Omicron should be available as soon as March. read more

PFIZER-BIONTECH (PFE.N)

Companies said a three-shot course of their COVID-19 vaccine was shown to generate a neutralizing effect against the new Omicron variant in a lab test. read more

Two vaccine doses resulted in significantly lower neutralising antibodies but a third dose increased the neutralising antibodies by a factor of 25, they said, adding that they can deliver an Omicron-based vaccine in March 2022.

Earlier, a lab study conducted in South Africa showed that Omicron variant can partially evade protection from two doses of the PFE/BNTX shot. read more

JOHNSON & JOHNSON (JNJ.N)

J&J said it was testing blood serum from participants in various trials to look for neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant. It was also pursuing an Omicron-specific vaccine and would progress it as needed. read more

The company, however, remains confident in the immune responses generated by its shot against other variants to date in clinical studies, said Mathai Mammen, global head of J&J arm Janssen Research & Development.

ASTRAZENECA PLC-UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (AZN.L)

AstraZeneca said it was examining the impact of Omicron on its vaccine, which is developed with Oxford University, and its antibody cocktail, adding it was hopeful its combination drug would retain efficacy. read more

REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS INC (REGN.O)

Its COVID-19 antibody drug could be less effective against Omicron, Regeneron said.

Based on its study of Omicron's individual mutations, "there may be reduced neutralization activity of both vaccine-induced and monoclonal antibody conveyed immunity", Regeneron said, adding that the analysis included its COVID-19 antibody cocktail, REGEN-COV. read more

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