A medical worker from Parrish Medical Center holds a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a drive through vaccination clinic for employees of Port Canaveral, workers at local hotels and restaurants, and residents of the Port Canaveral community.
Paul Hennessy | LightRocket | Getty Images
Moderna said its Covid-19 vaccine booster shot produced a “robust” antibody response against the highly contagious delta variant, according to details of a study released Thursday with the company’s second-quarter earnings report.
In a phase-two trial, Moderna is testing a 50-microgram dose of three vaccine booster candidates in previously vaccinated individuals. The booster shots produced a promising immune response against three variants, including delta, with antibody levels approaching those seen in previously unvaccinated people who received two 100-microgram doses, the company said.
The data has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication, it said.
The company’s second-quarter financial results also beat Wall Street’s expectations on earnings and revenue. Here’s how Moderna did compared with what Wall Street expected, according to average estimates compiled by Refinitiv:
- EPS: $6.46 per share versus $5.96 per share expected
- Revenue: $4.35 billion versus $4.2 billion expected
The new data on boosters comes as the delta variant spreads across several countries, including the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the variant is as contagious as chickenpox and may make older people sicker, even if they’ve been fully vaccinated.
In slides that accompanied the earnings report Thursday, Moderna said it expects the variant will lead to an increase in breakthrough infections, which occur in vaccinated individuals.
“While we see durable Phase 3 efficacy through 6 months, we expect neutralizing titers will continue to wane and eventually impact vaccine efficacy,” the company wrote. “Given this intersection, we believe dose 3 booster will likely be necessary prior to the winter season.”
People in the U.S. are already finding ways to secure booster shots amid concerns about delta. Still, the World Health Organization on Wednesday called on wealthy nations to stop the distribution of Covid booster shots, citing vaccine inequity around the world.
Moderna also said Thursday a final analysis of its phase three study found the two-dose vaccine was 93% effective, with efficacy “remaining durable” through six months after administration of the second dose.
Moderna, which was founded in 2010, was the second company to gain U.S. authorization for its Covid vaccine behind Pfizer-BioNTech. Moderna’s Covid vaccine generated $4.2 billion in sales in the three months ended June 30, according to the earnings report.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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