Moderna Korea announced on the 1st that its novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine 'Spikevax LP' targeting the LP.8.1 variant has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
Spikevax LP is a vaccine confirmed to induce broad cross-immune responses against the latest circulating variants, including the COVID-19 LP.8.1 strain, and can be used for adolescents aged 12 and older as well as adults.
Moderna plans to supply the vaccine domestically in line with the government's 2025-2026 seasonal vaccination program starting in October. According to the guidelines for the national vaccination program, high-risk groups, including those aged 65 and older and residents of facilities vulnerable to infection, can receive the vaccination for free.
The LP.8.1 series vaccines supplied during this season have been recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In response, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency decided to introduce the LP.8.1 series vaccine, which has shown a higher neutralizing antibody response compared to the JN.1 series used last year, following a resolution by the Vaccination Expert Committee.
Moderna explained that their COVID-19 vaccine has demonstrated excellent immune efficacy and safety through large-scale phase 3 clinical trials and extensive real-world evidence (RWE), with immune efficacy levels in those aged 65 and older confirmed to be similar to younger populations.
Moderna is the only company in the country manufacturing messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines in collaboration with Samsung Biologics and supplying the vaccine in cooperation with Boryung.