Pfizer and BioNTech release data from studies showing their vaccines neutralize Omicron

On Monday, Pfizer and BioNTech published results from a paired study that showed vaccine-induced antibodies are able to neutralize the omicron strain of SARS-Cov-2.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Science, includes data from 51 individuals who were given two or three doses of the Pfizer Biontech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2).

The data showed individuals who received three doses of the vaccine built up antibodies that neutralized the omicron variant, while those who received only two doses experienced only limited neutralization of omicron.

Pfizer is also conducting studies on omicron-specific vaccines. The study, in which 600 volunteers who were given two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine three to six months ago will receive one or two doses of the omicron-specific vaccine as a booster.

Another 600 volunteers who also received regular Pfizer vaccines previously will receive another dose of the BNT162b2 as a booster.

“We recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address omicron and new variants in the future,” Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s vaccine research chief, said.