China’s Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd, a developer of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) drugs, has announced receiving clinical trial approval in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.4/5 variants. This approval marks a significant step in the global fight against the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
Omicron BA.5 and Subvariants
The Omicron BA.5 variant and its subvariants have become the dominant strains worldwide. Compared to other variants, BA.5 exhibits stronger immune escape and transmission capabilities. Abogen’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.1 variant has already completed subject enrollment for Phase I clinical trials in Indonesia and the UAE.
Vaccine Development and Immunogenicity
Abogen’s new mRNA vaccine, based on the BA.1 mRNA vaccine with a new design for the BA.4/5 variants, has demonstrated good immunogenicity against multiple Omicron subvariants, including BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75. Preclinical animal experiments have shown that the vaccine can induce broad immunity against these subvariants. The clinical approval was granted based on the vaccine’s strong preclinical data and clinical data from Abogen’s other COVID-19 vaccines.
Future Outlook
The clinical trial approval in the UAE underscores Abogen Biosciences’ commitment to developing effective vaccines against emerging COVID-19 variants. By targeting the Omicron BA.4/5 variants, Abogen aims to enhance global preparedness and response to the pandemic.-Fineline Info & Tech
