The company’s COVID-19 shot contains an actual version of the virus’ spike protein that cannot cause disease but can trigger the immune system. The vaccine developer said it had started developing a spike protein specifically based on the known genetic sequence of the variant, B.1.1.529…

The company has said it is on track to file for U.S. approval by the end of the year. It has also filed for approvals with the European Medicines Agency as well as in Canada.

Other vaccine developers, including Germany’s BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), have said they are testing the effectiveness of their shots against the new variant, which is named Omicron by the World Health Organisation. read more