Johnson & Johnson is seeking an Emergency Use Authorization for its SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from the US Food and Drug Administration, CNN reports.
J&J announced last week that its adenovirus-vector SARS-CoV-2 vaccine — which is offered in a one-dose regimen — has a 66 percent efficacy rate in preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19. The company's findings, though, indicated that the candidate vaccine may be less effective against the viral strain identified in South Africa.
CNN notes that the FDA has scheduled a meeting for later this month of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which will examine the company's vaccine data and make a recommendation. If the FDA is to issue an EUA for J&J's vaccine, it would not then come until the end of the month, CNN adds.
"Adding a third vaccine to the mix would add both supply and flexibility to the struggling US efforts to vaccinate the population," CNN says, adding that J&J's vaccine, in addition to being given as a single dose, and can be stored for months at refrigerator temperatures.
The FDA has previously authorized SARS-CoV-2 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.