Pfizer/BioNTech have submitted preliminary data from an early-stage trial to the U.S. regulators to seek authorization of a booster dose of their vaccine against COVID-19, stated the drugmakers.

They revealed that the third dose of the vaccine evoked significantly higher neutralizing antibodies against the initial version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, compared to the two doses, and also against the Beta and the Delta variants. Pfizer and BioNTech stated that all the patients in the trial were administered the third dose of the vaccine eight to nine months after they received the second dose.

They are likely to submit the trial data to the European Medicines Agency and other regulatory authorities in the coming few weeks. Data from a late-stage trial of the third vaccine dose are also expected soon… (Reuters, August 16, 2021)