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J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Elicits Strong Antibody Responses
Two Phase 1/2a clinical trials showed that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine booster increased binding antibody responses in participants 18 to 55 years of age.
Johnson & Johnson recently announced that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine generated a rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after vaccination.
The company conducted two Phase 1/2a studies in individuals previously vaccinated with its single-shot vaccine in anticipation of the potential need for booster doses.
HHS, ASPR, and BARDA funded the trials (VAC31518COV1001 and VAC31518COV2001).
Trial results, submitted to medRxiv last week, showed significant increases in binding antibody responses in participants between 18 and 55 years of age and individuals 65 years of age and older who received a lower booster dose.
These positive results follow July study findings, which showed that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine elicited significant antibody and T-cell immune responses as long as eight months after vaccination.
The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also found that the vaccine protected against variants of concern, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.429, B.1.617.1, and the original Wuhan strain.
“We have established that a single shot of our COVID-19 vaccine generates strong and robust immune responses that are durable and persistent through eight months. With these new data, we also see that a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine further increases antibody responses among study participants who had previously received our vaccine,” Mathai Mammen, MD, PhD, global head of Janssen research & development, said in the announcement.
“We look forward to discussing with public health officials a potential strategy for our Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, boosting eight months or longer after the primary single-dose vaccination,” Mammen continued.
In March, FDA issued an emergency use authorization for a third COVID-19 vaccine to Johnson & Johnson. The vaccine was approved for individuals 18 years of age and older.
The agency based its decision on Phase 3 trial results, which showed that a single dose of the vaccine was 67 percent effective in preventing moderate-to-severe and critical coronavirus 14 days after vaccination and 66 percent effective 28 days after vaccination.
Johnson & Johnson is currently engaging with the FDA, the CDC, EMA, and other health authorities to boost its COVID-19 vaccine efficacy.
