Beijing, February 4 (Xinhua) -- Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccine strategy at the European Medicines Agency, said on the 3rd that if clinical trials of a monovalent vaccine against the mutated new coronavirus Omiljung strain can be carried out quickly, the agency will also support pharmaceutical companies to apply for authorization.
Cavaleri said at a press conference on the 3rd that he encouraged pharmaceutical companies not only to study the monovalent vaccine against Omicron, but also to study vaccines that are effective against a variety of variants. Conducting clinical trials on multiple vaccines will be the "strongest way to push the envelope," but "if clinical trials of a monovalent vaccine against Ami kerong can be carried out quickly, I think we will only support it."
People line up for testing at a mobile COVID-19 testing site in The German capital, Berlin, on Feb. 2. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Stefan Zetz)
Since its first discovery in South Africa in November 2021, Omi kerong has quickly become a major global epidemic strain. The World Health Organization said in its weekly report on the global COVID-19 pandemic released on the 1st of this month that more than 93% of the new crown virus samples collected in the past month were More than 93%. The U.S. Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and the German biotech company have launched clinical trials on the vaccine against Omicron in January.
WHO said on the 1st that 57 countries and regions have found the subtype variant strain BA.2 of Omi kerong. Talking about the characteristics of the Aomi Kejung subtype variant strain, Cavaleri said on the 3rd that the existing research is not sufficient, and it is "too early" to conclude the difference between the subtype mutant strain and the "original" strain in terms of infectivity and immune escape ability.
Cavaleri stressed at the press conference that covid-19 vaccinations, especially booster shots, are still the best way to prevent severe illness from contracting Omiljung. The European Food and Drug Administration will soon make provisions for Pfizer vaccination for adolescents aged 16 and 17.
Passengers wearing masks wait at a train station in The German capital, Berlin, on Feb. 2. (Xinhua News Agency, photo by Stefan Zetz)
At the same time, Cavaleri hinted that several COVID-19 vaccines developed by European pharmaceutical companies may not be approved for use before Easter, that is, before mid-April. "We do need to look at the results of these clinical trials and then make an assessment, including a correct understanding of whether the study data covers all adults or whether there are restrictions on specific groups," he said. ”
A committee of the European Food and Drug Administration recommended on January 27 that the conditional listing of paxlovid, a new coronavirus oral drug developed by Pfizer, means that the European Union has given the new crown oral drug a "green light". Cavaleri said on the 3rd that PAXLOVID can effectively reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths and have fewer side effects.
According to Agence France, France is the first EU country to launch PAXLOVID. (Xuelin Bao)