Thread by @Daniel_E_Park

Important study of Novavax (ancestral & BA.1) and Moderna boosters in primates. All have effective long-term immune responses and lower viral replication, but only NVX had significantly lower viral loads in upper airways, which could limit transmission. science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

Panel E shows some of the mRNA-1273 boosted NHPs with similar upper airway viral loads to controls, whereas the viral loads are much lower (or non-detectable) after Novavax boost, with significance shown using AUCs in panel F.

A key note is that the viral challenge was 3-months post-boost, indicating strong protection during periods of waning immunity. There is also some interesting data on IgG class switching, VOCs, and also notably lung pathology was comparably milder among NVX boosted macaques.

All SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective and provide long-term protection against severe disease. Heterologous boosting has been shown to broaden and improve the immune response. Novavax may also lower transmission - will be important to evaluate in humans
thelancet.com/journals/langl…