Novavax CEO welcomes EMA permission to his two-dose jab

The CEO of Novavax has welcomed the decision of the European Medicines Agency to grant conditional marketing authorisation to their two-dose vaccine. The Maryland-based Novavax uses genetic engineering to grow harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in insect cells. Scientists extract and purify the protein and then mix in an immune-boosting chemical.

Erck also stressed its efficiency as a booster jab against the alpha, beta and delta variants. Novavax says it currently is testing how its shots will hold up against the omicron variant, and like other manufacturers has begun formulating an updated version to better match that variant in case in case it’s eventually needed. The EU has ordered up to 100 million doses of the Novavax vaccine with an option for 100 million more.