Moderna Inc. said Thursday that preliminary clinical trial data show that its updated COVID-19 vaccine is effective against newer variants that are starting to circulate widely. The shot significantly boosted neutralizing antibodies against the Eris, or EG.5, variant, as well as the Fornax FL 1.5.1 variant that is starting to surge in parts of the U.S., the company said in a release. Pending approval, the updated vaccine is expected to be available in the coming weeks for fall vaccinations, Moderna said. The EG.5 variant has shown increased prevalence and immune escape properties, and may cause a rise in cases and potentially become dominant globally, the World Health Organization said in a report last week. Shares of COVID vaccine makers rose Thursday amid an uptick in COVID hospitalizations. Moderna MRNA, +7.40% shares jumped 7.4%, while BioNTech’s ADR BNTX, +4.87% climbed 4.9%, Novavax Inc. NVAX, +3.37% shares gained 3.4%, and Pfizer Inc. PFE, +2.90% stock rose 2.9%.
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