(Reuters) – Moderna Inc said on Monday that it had given the first patients an early stage of a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate for its possible evaluation as a stimulant shot.
The company said its new candidate, mRNA-1283, could possibly be stored in refrigerators instead of freezers, making it easier to distribute, especially in developing countries.
The earlier study would assess the safety and immunogenicity of mRNA-1283 at three dose levels and given to healthy adults as a single dose or in two doses 28 days apart, the company said.
Last week, Moderna began dosing the first participants in a study testing its candidates for the COVID-19 scheme vaccine.
Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla and Vishwadha Chander in Bengaluru; Edited by Shailesh Kuber and Anil D’Silva