COVOVAX, developed by US-based Novovax, is expected to arrive in the Philippines in the third quarter of this year, according to Dr. Luningning Villa, medical director at Faberco Life Sciences Inc., the local pharmaceutical firm that has secured the distribution rights to the vaccine in the country.
The said vaccine contains the NVX-CoV2373 recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine that demonstrated 100 percent protection against moderate and severe disease, 93.2 percent efficacy against variants of interest and concern, 91 percent efficacy in high-risk populations such as the elderly and those with comorbidities, and a 90.4 percent efficacy overall in the latest phase 3 clinical study conducted in the US.
Stanley C. Erck, president and chief executive officer at Novavax, said these clinical results reinforce that NVX-CoV2373 is extremely effective and offers complete protection against both moderate and severe COVID-19 infection.
The company is testing a third dose as a six-month booster, and early data suggests it produces a strong immune response.
“We are very pleased with the results of the trials and look forward to providing Filipinos a new high-quality vaccine soon,” Villa said, adding that the local pharmaceutical firm has already submitted its documents for a rolling evaluation for emergency use authorization to the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (PFDA). Review and completion of requirements is currently being coordinated between the company and the PFDA.
Novavax is also part of another study currently underway in the U.K. examining mixing different vaccines. Results could bode well for a broad booster use for NVX-CoV2373. In addition, Serum Institute is preparing to conduct clinical trials to determine the efficacy of Covovax on children. The study could be launched as early as July in India.
