Covid-19: CanSinoBio's inhaled booster stronger against BA.1 Omicron than Sinovac shot

Chinese vaccine firm CanSino Biologic's inhalation-based candidate elicited a better antibody response as a booster against the BA.1 Omicron sub-variant than Sinovac's shot, but the antibody level dropped in months, clinical trial data showed.

The result came as top political leaders in China called for proper tracking of virus mutation and developing of new vaccines and treatments in the country's effort to refine its Covid control strategy.

China has given about 56 per cent of its 1.41 billion population a booster dose using domestic shots, and most people were boosted with the same product as their primary series, despite growing evidence that some mix-and-max strategies would likely achieve higher antibody levels. read more

Among over 100 adults who received a lower dose of CanSinoBIO's (6185.HK) inhaled vaccine candidate following two Sinovac shots, after four weeks, 92.5 per cent developed the neutralising antibody that neutralises Omicron at levels that researchers defined as detectable, according to a paper published without peer review.

That compared with 88.9 per cent for a higher-dose group, also with over 100 participants, said in a paper published late on Thursday.

The rate for both groups declined to around 70 per cent after six months of the inhaled booster.

Barely any of the over 100 participants who received a third Sinovac shot had detectable neutralising antibody for Omicron after four weeks or six months.

The study did not compare CanSinoBIO's inhaled booster with other potential boosters that have triggered stronger antibody responses than a third dose of the Sinopharm or Sinovac shot.

• Top athletes primed for action at Commonwealth Games