Coronavirus Global situation
AstraZeneca working on vaccine to tackle Omicron
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LONDON • AstraZeneca says it is working with Oxford University to produce a vaccine for the Omicron coronavirus variant, joining other vaccine makers which are looking to develop the variant-specific vaccine.
"Together with Oxford University, we have taken preliminary steps in producing an Omicron variant vaccine, in case it is needed, and will be informed by emerging data," a spokesman for the company said in a statement.
Oxford University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Financial Times first reported the news, citing Dr Sandy Douglas, a research group leader at Oxford.
"Adenovirus-based vaccines (such as that made by Oxford/ AstraZeneca) could in principle be used to respond to any new variant more rapidly than some may previously have realised," Dr Douglas told FT.
A lab study last week found that AstraZeneca's antibody cocktail Evusheld retained neutralising activity against the Omicron variant.
Vaccine makers Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna also said previously they were working on Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccines. Moderna said it hopes to start clinical trials early next year.
REUTERS
