Drugmaker expects to be able to develop new variant-specific vaccines in roughly 100 days as COVID-19 mutates.
Pfizer also said it is working to improve its existing vaccine formulation, developed jointly with Germany's BioNTech, based on the vaccine's reaction to new COVID-19 variants that arise. Pfizer can"update the current vaccine to address any future variant of potential concern, if needed," a company spokesperson said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.
The spokesperson confirmed that it has already begun manufacturing doses of the Omicron-specific vaccine, should it be deemed necessary. "Given the long-term threat demonstrated by Omicron's immune escape, Moderna will continue to develop an Omicron-specific variant vaccine," the company said. Moderna expects the vaccine to enter advanced clinical trials early this year, but did not specify when.