AstraZeneca said on Thursday the initial data from the trial conducted on Covid-19 shots, Vaxzevria, showed it produced a higher antibody response to the omicron and other variants, including beta, delta, alpha and gamma, when given as the third booster dose.
The increase in response was seen in people who were previously vaccinated with Vaxzevria or MRNA vaccine, the drug maker, added that it would submit this data to the regulator worldwide considering the urgent need for booster.
AstraZeneca has developed a vaccine with researchers from the University of Oxford, and lab studies last month found a three-dose Vaxzevria course effectively against a new variant that spread rapidly.
Data was the first released by the company from the trial to the vaccine booster.
The company said it adds to developing evidence that supports the third dose of its vaccine regardless of the primary vaccination schedule.
“These important studies have shown that the third dose of Vaxzevria after two initial doses of the same vaccine, or after an inactive mRNA or vaccine, greatly increases immunity to Covid-19,” said the Head of the Oxford Vaccine Group in a statement.
The main British trial in December found that Astrazeneca’s shots increased antibodies when given as booster after initial vaccination with shots or pfizer themselves, which are based on MRNA technology.
However, this study concluded that the MRNA vaccine made by Pfizer and Moderna provides the biggest boost for antibodies when given as a dose of booster.