Switzerland Agency Approves Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech Boosters

   By Josh Beckerman 
 

Switzerland's Swissmedic agency has approved Covid-19 vaccine booster doses from Moderna Inc. and from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE.

Swissmedic said a third vaccination at least six months after the second dose may help "older people or at-risk patients" maintain their level of protection. For immunocompromised people, such as organ transplant recipients, who have a weak immune response or none at all after two doses, a third dose can be administered at least 28 days after the second shot, the agency said.

On Monday, Moderna said the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use concluded that a 50 ug booster dose of its vaccine may be considered for people aged 18 and older at least six months after completion of primary vaccination. The EMA's opinion reflected favorable results from a data analysis of a Phase 2 clinical study, Moderna said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer-BioNTech boosters in September. In October, it approved those from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, and authorized "mix and match" use of a different booster vaccine.

In September 2020, Moderna said Switzerland would be the first country outside of North America with a Moderna regional hub and commercial organization.

Write to Josh Beckerman at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 26, 2021 13:56 ET (17:56 GMT)

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