Mainz, Germany, 25 Aug, (dpa/GNA) – German biotechnology company BioNTech plans to start distributing a new coronavirus vaccine that has been developed to neutralize two Omicron variants early next month.
“We will be able to deliver very soon, hopefully at the beginning of September,” BioNTech chief executive Ugur Sahin, told Der Spiegel news magazine.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), recently announced that it would take a decision on applications from BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, regarding their vaccines adapted for the BA.1 variant of the virus.
However, this variant is of declining importance in Europe. The new vaccine is however still expected to be more effective in neutralizing the variants, currently in circulation.
The EMA is currently testing a vaccine adapted by BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer, for the BA.4 and BA.5 variants currently dominant in Europe.
BioNTech was currently submitting the last documents to the EMA, Sahin told Der Spiegel. “Then things can preceed quickly here as well,” he said.
GNA