Moderna, Inc. is trumpeting the interim results of a phase three trial of its COVID-19 vaccine, which have shown antibodies persisting for six months post-vaccination.
These results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, come with some caveats, though. While the results were founded on rigorous assessment by three different serologic assays, this is merely interim data — no one yet knows how long antibodies will continue long term, and studies continue to that end. Further, scientists noted that antibody titers and tests that best determine vaccine efficacy are not currently known.
Regardless, the study determined the vaccine to have 94 percent overall efficacy in preventing cases of COVID-19. This was based on an analysis of 33 healthy adults given both doses of the existing vaccine.
“We are pleased that this new data shows antibody persistence through 6 months following the second dose of our COVID-19 vaccine,” Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said. “This gives us further confidence in the protection afforded by our COVID-19 vaccine. We remain committed to continuing to address the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The mRNA vaccine has been in use for those 18 years or older under a Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization since December 2020. It has since seen widespread authorization throughout the world, and the U.S. government has continued to purchase the vaccine for its growing vaccination efforts. At the same time, studies of its use continue.
One of these studies includes a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) trial assessing the monovalent and multivalent modified mRNA-1273 vaccines as a primary and booster vaccine for those previously treated with the vaccine.