Europe Recommends Protein-Based COVID-19 Booster for Adults

Maryland-based Novavax, Inc. recently announced that the Nuvaxovid™ COVID-19 vaccine had been recommended for expanded conditional marketing authorization (CMA) in the European Union (EU) as a homologous and heterologous booster for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 for adults.

"This recommendation is a critical step towards being able to offer the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine registered for use as both a primary series and booster regardless of previous vaccine history in the EU," said Stanley C. Erck, President, and CEO of Novavax, in a press release issued on September 1, 2022.

"As COVID-19 continues to evolve, we are committed to increasing global access to diversified vaccine options."

In Phase 3 clinical trials, COV-BOOST, Nuvaxovid induced a robust antibody response when used as a heterologous third booster dose.

Nuvaxovid has also been approved in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand as a booster in adults.

The European Commission previously granted CMA for Nuvaxovid in adults in December 2021 and for adolescents in July 2022.

As of September 2022, Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine had received authorizations from more than 43 countries and is Listed by the World Health Organization. 

Novavax's Nuvaxovid is a protein-based vaccine that contains purified protein antigen and can neither replicate nor can it cause COVID-19.

As with any vaccine, patients should speak with their healthcare provider to make informed immunization decisions.