Vaxart to test cross-reactivity of its COVID-19 oral tablet against Omicron variant.

In the first study, Vaxart will test the activity of its Phase II COVID-19 oral vaccine candidate against Omicron by analyzing mucosal and serum samples from subjects to whom the vaccine was administered in Vaxart’s current COVID-19 vaccine Phase II trials, said Dr. Sean Tucker, Vaxart’s Chief Scientific Officer and founder.

In the second study, Vaxart will conduct an animal Omicron challenge study to assess how its current Phase II COVID-19 vaccine candidate performs in comparison to an Omicron-specific vaccine candidate that Vaxart is developing.

Vaxart deliberately engineered its COVID-19 vaccine candidate to be cross-reactive against emerging variants based on Vaxart scientists’ early recognition of the risk of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2. In May 2021, the Company announced Phase I clinical test results demonstrating that its vaccine candidate, VXA-CoV2-1, produced broad cross-reactive T cell and IgA responses against other, non-COVID coronaviruses. Dr. Tucker also said that results from Vaxart’s Phase I clinical testing and earlier preclinical testing support Vaxart’s belief that its vaccine candidates should be reactive against Omicron.