Boosters Shows Substantial Increase in Antibody and T-cell Responses

New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced on December 5, 2021, preliminary results from an independent, non-peer-reviewed study, including a subset of participants from the Janssen-sponsored COV2008 study, which showed that a booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S), administered at six months after a two-dose primary regimen of the Comirnaty (BNT162b2) vaccine, increased both antibody and T-cell responses.

These results demonstrate the potential benefits of heterologous boosting (mix-and-match), stated J&J.

"These results provide valuable scientific insights for our vaccine when used as a mix-and-match booster and can help inform boosting strategies with the goal to curb the pandemic," said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research & Development, J&J, in a press release.

These Phase 2 data are reinforced by preliminary results from the UK COV-BOOST clinical study published in The Lancet, which demonstrated that following primary vaccination with two doses of either Comirnaty (BNT162b2) (n=106) or ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (n=108), a booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine increased both antibody and T-cell responses.

The U.S. CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for all eligible individuals aged 18 years and older who receive an authorized COVID-19 vaccine.

And in collaboration with academic groups in South Africa and around the world, J&J has been evaluating the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine across variants, now including the Omicron variant. In addition, the Company is pursuing an Omicron-specific variant vaccine and will progress it as needed.

The new study was conducted by Dan Barouch, M.D., Ph.D., et al. of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.