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J&J (JNJ) COVID Booster Jab Shows Effectiveness Against Omicron
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Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) announced preliminary data from the phase IIIb Sisonke 2 study, which evaluated the booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S) among healthcare workers in South Africa who received the primary vaccine regimen of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine.
During the study period, i.e., mid-November to mid-December, J&J noted that the frequency of the Omicron variant increased from 82% to 98% in South Africa.
The Sisonke 2 study (n=227,310) demonstrated that a homologous shot of the booster dose reduced the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 among healthcare workers in South Africa after Omicron became the dominant variant. In fact, the booster dose increased vaccine effectiveness over time to 85% against hospitalization.
Please note that the homologous booster shot was administered six to nine months after the primary regimen of the J&J COVID vaccine.
J&J also reported data from a separate analysis of the immune response to different vaccine regimens. The analysis evaluated the administration of a heterologous shot of J&J’s booster dose in comparison with a homologous booster shot in individuals who initially received the primary two-shot regimen of Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) and BioNTech’s (BNTX - Free Report) mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2.
Both the neutralizing antibodies and CD8+ T-cells were higher after a booster dose of J&J’s vaccine. A heterologous booster shot of J&J’s COVID vaccine generated a 41-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies four weeks after the boost against the Omicron variant, while the homologous booster shot of BNT162b2 generated a 17-fold increase.
The heterologous booster shot of J&J’s COVID vaccine also generated a five-fold increase in CD8+ T-cells in two weeks following the booster dose against Omicron compared to a 1.4-fold increase generated by the homologous booster shot of Pfizer/BioNTech’s BNT162b2.
Per J&J, the CD8+ T-cells generated from its COVID vaccine may be the reason for the high level of effectiveness against hospitalization in the Sisonke 2 study, since the Omicron variant has shown the ability to escape neutralizing antibodies.
Shares of J&J have risen 9.5% so far this year in comparison with the industry’s 21.8% increase.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
We note that BNT162b2 is marketed in the United States under the trade name Comirnaty. Earlier this month, Pfizer and BioNTech announced data from a pseudovirus neutralization test, which demonstrated that three doses of Comirnaty neutralize the Omicron variant.
Pfizer/BioNTech stated that the administration of the third dose of Comirnaty provided a level of protection against the Omicron variant that was comparable to the level achieved against the wild-type virus following the initial two-dose regimen. In the event of a need for an Omicron-specific booster, both the companies expect to deliver one by March 2021.
Apart from the booster shots developed by J&J and Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna (MRNA - Free Report) is also evaluating its own mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, against the Omicron variant.
Moderna is also evaluating its multivalent booster and Omicron-specific booster candidates in phase II/III studies. Earlier this month, Moderna announced preliminary data from a pseudovirus neutralization titer assay study, which demonstrated that its COVID-19 vaccine booster increased neutralizing antibody levels significantly against the Omicron variant.
Moderna continues to develop an Omicron-specific booster candidate in case it becomes necessary going forward amid the rising infection cases due to Omicron. The Omicron-specific booster candidate will enter clinical study in early 2022.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recommended the use of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines — Comirnaty and mRNA-1273 — or their booster dose over J&J’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC stated that J&J’s vaccine or its booster dose should be used only when mRNA-based vaccines are contraindicated for a person or are inaccessible.
Following the recommendation, J&J has defended its COVID vaccine stating that it remains confident in the overall positive benefit-risk profile of the vaccine. The company believes that its single-dose administration, along with ease of storage and transport, makes the vaccine a better option.
Image: Bigstock
J&J (JNJ) COVID Booster Jab Shows Effectiveness Against Omicron
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Free Report) announced preliminary data from the phase IIIb Sisonke 2 study, which evaluated the booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S) among healthcare workers in South Africa who received the primary vaccine regimen of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine.
During the study period, i.e., mid-November to mid-December, J&J noted that the frequency of the Omicron variant increased from 82% to 98% in South Africa.
The Sisonke 2 study (n=227,310) demonstrated that a homologous shot of the booster dose reduced the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 among healthcare workers in South Africa after Omicron became the dominant variant. In fact, the booster dose increased vaccine effectiveness over time to 85% against hospitalization.
Please note that the homologous booster shot was administered six to nine months after the primary regimen of the J&J COVID vaccine.
J&J also reported data from a separate analysis of the immune response to different vaccine regimens. The analysis evaluated the administration of a heterologous shot of J&J’s booster dose in comparison with a homologous booster shot in individuals who initially received the primary two-shot regimen of Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) and BioNTech’s (BNTX - Free Report) mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2.
Both the neutralizing antibodies and CD8+ T-cells were higher after a booster dose of J&J’s vaccine. A heterologous booster shot of J&J’s COVID vaccine generated a 41-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies four weeks after the boost against the Omicron variant, while the homologous booster shot of BNT162b2 generated a 17-fold increase.
The heterologous booster shot of J&J’s COVID vaccine also generated a five-fold increase in CD8+ T-cells in two weeks following the booster dose against Omicron compared to a 1.4-fold increase generated by the homologous booster shot of Pfizer/BioNTech’s BNT162b2.
Per J&J, the CD8+ T-cells generated from its COVID vaccine may be the reason for the high level of effectiveness against hospitalization in the Sisonke 2 study, since the Omicron variant has shown the ability to escape neutralizing antibodies.
Shares of J&J have risen 9.5% so far this year in comparison with the industry’s 21.8% increase.
We note that BNT162b2 is marketed in the United States under the trade name Comirnaty. Earlier this month, Pfizer and BioNTech announced data from a pseudovirus neutralization test, which demonstrated that three doses of Comirnaty neutralize the Omicron variant.
Pfizer/BioNTech stated that the administration of the third dose of Comirnaty provided a level of protection against the Omicron variant that was comparable to the level achieved against the wild-type virus following the initial two-dose regimen. In the event of a need for an Omicron-specific booster, both the companies expect to deliver one by March 2021.
Apart from the booster shots developed by J&J and Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna (MRNA - Free Report) is also evaluating its own mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, against the Omicron variant.
Moderna is also evaluating its multivalent booster and Omicron-specific booster candidates in phase II/III studies. Earlier this month, Moderna announced preliminary data from a pseudovirus neutralization titer assay study, which demonstrated that its COVID-19 vaccine booster increased neutralizing antibody levels significantly against the Omicron variant.
Moderna continues to develop an Omicron-specific booster candidate in case it becomes necessary going forward amid the rising infection cases due to Omicron. The Omicron-specific booster candidate will enter clinical study in early 2022.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recommended the use of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines — Comirnaty and mRNA-1273 — or their booster dose over J&J’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC stated that J&J’s vaccine or its booster dose should be used only when mRNA-based vaccines are contraindicated for a person or are inaccessible.
Following the recommendation, J&J has defended its COVID vaccine stating that it remains confident in the overall positive benefit-risk profile of the vaccine. The company believes that its single-dose administration, along with ease of storage and transport, makes the vaccine a better option.
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Johnson & Johnson currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.