COVID-19. FDA experts: for the 2024-2025 campaign, vaccines will target the JN.1 variant

The vaccine for the 2024-25 season should be available in early autumn, in a monovalent formulation. At the moment, however, JN.1 is no longer the predominant mutation in the United States, while the KP.2 and KP.3 sub-variants are continually increasing. Yet experts consider it the most appropriate choice

07 JUN – A U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel has recommended that COVID-19 vaccines for 2024-25 target the JN.1 variant. The 16 councilors voted on whether to give priority to the original JN.1 variant or one of its variants, such as the currently dominant KP.2 strain. DDuring the discussion they overwhelmingly recommended the use of the older JN.1 variant, repeating the decision of the experts of the European Medicines Agency a few weeks ago.

The vaccine for the 2024-25 season should be available in early autumn, in a monovalent formulation. At the moment, however, JN.1 is no longer the predominant mutation in the United States, while the KP.2 and KP.3 sub-variants are continually increasing. However, the vaccine producers have informed the FDA that a new vaccine against the JN.1 variant also appears to work against other mutations coming from the same ‘parent’ variant. A representative of Moderna – US media reported – told the committee that “the latest data suggests that the vaccine against JN.1 would also protect KP.2, KP.3”. “It is very difficult to predict which direction the virus will go but, given the choice, targeting JN.1 appears to be the appropriate option,” he commented Sarah Meyermember of the FDA committee after the vote.

07 June 2024
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