<p>Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla on Monday said a redesigned Covid-19 vaccine that specifically targets the Omicron coronavirus variant is likely needed and his company could have one ready to launch by March.</p>.<p>Bourla said Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE are working on both an Omicron-targeted vaccine version as well as a shot that would include both the previous vaccine as well as one targeted at the fast-spreading variant.</p>.<p>"I think it is the most likely scenario," Bourla said, speaking at J P Morgan's annual healthcare conference, which is being held virtually this year. "We're working on higher doses. We're working different schedules. We're doing a lot of things right now, as we speak."</p>.<p>Bourla said Pfizer could be ready to file for US regulatory approval for a redesigned vaccine and launch it as soon as March. Bourla said Pfizer has built up so much manufacturing capacity for the vaccine that it will not be a problem to switch immediately.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read -- <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/cdc-endorses-pfizer-boosters-for-kids-aged-12-and-older-1068429.html" target="_blank">CDC endorses Pfizer boosters for kids aged 12 and older</a></strong></p>.<p>Covid-19 vaccines eventually could be an annual shot for most people, Bourla said, and some high-risk groups might be eligible to receive the shots more often than that.</p>.<p>Moderna Inc CEO Stephane Bancel said last week that people could need another shot this fall, as the efficacy of boosters is likely to decline over the next few months.</p>.<p>An Omicron-driven spike in Covid-19 cases has forced some nations to look to another booster dose, but early signs suggest repeat vaccination may be a hard sell.</p>.<p>Pfizer earlier in the day announced three deals to broaden the use of the messenger RNA technology (mRNA) that its Covid-19 vaccine was based on, including a pact worth as much as $1.35 billion with gene-editing specialist Beam Therapeutics.</p>.<p>The US drugmaker has been looking to advance the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics after it led global efforts to develop a Covid-19 shot against the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>The company will also collaborate with Codex DNA Inc to leverage the biotech's proprietary technology, which could enable more efficient development of mRNA-based vaccines, therapeutics and other biopharma products.</p>.<p>Its deal with private biotech Acuitas Therapeutics will focus on the use of the Vancouver-based company's lipid nanoparticle technology for developing up to 10 vaccines or therapeutics.</p>
<p>Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla on Monday said a redesigned Covid-19 vaccine that specifically targets the Omicron coronavirus variant is likely needed and his company could have one ready to launch by March.</p>.<p>Bourla said Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE are working on both an Omicron-targeted vaccine version as well as a shot that would include both the previous vaccine as well as one targeted at the fast-spreading variant.</p>.<p>"I think it is the most likely scenario," Bourla said, speaking at J P Morgan's annual healthcare conference, which is being held virtually this year. "We're working on higher doses. We're working different schedules. We're doing a lot of things right now, as we speak."</p>.<p>Bourla said Pfizer could be ready to file for US regulatory approval for a redesigned vaccine and launch it as soon as March. Bourla said Pfizer has built up so much manufacturing capacity for the vaccine that it will not be a problem to switch immediately.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read -- <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/cdc-endorses-pfizer-boosters-for-kids-aged-12-and-older-1068429.html" target="_blank">CDC endorses Pfizer boosters for kids aged 12 and older</a></strong></p>.<p>Covid-19 vaccines eventually could be an annual shot for most people, Bourla said, and some high-risk groups might be eligible to receive the shots more often than that.</p>.<p>Moderna Inc CEO Stephane Bancel said last week that people could need another shot this fall, as the efficacy of boosters is likely to decline over the next few months.</p>.<p>An Omicron-driven spike in Covid-19 cases has forced some nations to look to another booster dose, but early signs suggest repeat vaccination may be a hard sell.</p>.<p>Pfizer earlier in the day announced three deals to broaden the use of the messenger RNA technology (mRNA) that its Covid-19 vaccine was based on, including a pact worth as much as $1.35 billion with gene-editing specialist Beam Therapeutics.</p>.<p>The US drugmaker has been looking to advance the development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics after it led global efforts to develop a Covid-19 shot against the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>The company will also collaborate with Codex DNA Inc to leverage the biotech's proprietary technology, which could enable more efficient development of mRNA-based vaccines, therapeutics and other biopharma products.</p>.<p>Its deal with private biotech Acuitas Therapeutics will focus on the use of the Vancouver-based company's lipid nanoparticle technology for developing up to 10 vaccines or therapeutics.</p>