BioNTech SE has begun studying the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19 in southern Africa and is expected to yield the first data on the results of the variant's battle with its vaccine from laboratory tests within two weeks.
BioNTech said lab data will reveal whether the new variant, B.1.1.529, can avoid the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and the German biotech company. A BioNTech spokeswoman said Pfizer and BioNTech had plans a few months ago to be able to release a new version of the vaccine within 100 days if necessary.
"We understood the concerns of the experts and immediately launched an investigation," BioNTech said in a statement.
The new variant is spreading rapidly in southern Africa and has raised concerns around the world, with the UK and the European Union issuing temporary flight bans on the region and isolating visitors from the region.
Christian Lindmeier, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, said Friday it would take weeks to understand the full impact of the variant. A panel of experts will meet at WHO today to decide whether the strain is a noteworthy variant.
This article originated from the Financial Circle Network
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