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(Recasts and updates throughout with AstraZeneca statement)
Dec 21 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca Plc said on Tuesday
it is working with Oxford University to produce a vaccine for
the Omicron coronavirus variant, joining other vaccine-makers
who are looking to develop the variant-specific vaccine.
"Together with Oxford University, we have taken preliminary
steps in producing an Omicron variant vaccine, in case it is
needed and will be informed by emerging data," a spokesperson
for the company said in a statement.
Oxford did not immediately respond to a request for comment
outside business hours.
The Financial Times first reported the news, citing Sandy
Douglas, a research group leader at Oxford.
"Adenovirus-based vaccines (such as that made by
Oxford/AstraZeneca) could in principle be used to respond to any
new variant more rapidly than some may previously have
realised," Douglas told FT.
A lab-study last week found that AstraZeneca's antibody
cocktail Evusheld retained neutralising activity against the
Omicron variant.
Vaccine makers Pfizer/BioNTech and
Moderna also previously said they were working on
Omicron- specific COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna said hopes to start
clinical trials early next year.
(Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Additional
reporting by Vishal Vivek; Editing by Leslie Adler, David
Gregorio and Sonya Hepinstall)
