In expanding authorization of booster doses for both mRNA vaccines, the agency updated Moderna’s fact sheet to state the vaccine appears to pose a higher risk of myocarditis/pericarditis in males under age 40 years after the second dose, although data are ‘not yet dispositive.’

From inactivated virus-based to mRNA platforms, the race is on in China to develop vaccines to fight the latest omicron variant, with substantial new funding pouring into one young mRNA company.

NRx’s BriLife has demonstrated strong potential in early data from a mid-stage COVID-19 trial, spurring the company on to begin a Phase IIb/III study as soon as possible.

While news of a potentially highly transmissible new variant is causing alarm, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna are already pursuing a multi-pronged response to B.1.1.529.