Pharmaniaga Berhad : SINOVAC BIOTECH DATA SHOWS THREE DOSES OF SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINE EFFECTIVE TO FIGHT AGAINST OMICRON VARIANT

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LATEST RESEARCH SHOWS THREE DOSES OF SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINE NEUTRALISE ANTIBODIES IN 95% OF RECIPIENTS AGAINST OMICRON VARIANT

SHAH ALAM, 22 JANUARY 2022 - New research data recently published1 by Sinovac Biotech Ltd shows that three doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine produced higher neutralising antibodies in 95% of recipients compared with 3.3% by the second dose against variant of concern (VOC), including Omicron.

Sinovac Biotech spokesperson Pearson Liu said that this research provides reassurance that inactivated vaccines, one of the most widely used vaccines globally, remains effective in the fight against COVID-19.

"As the world continues to combat the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, the results support a three-dose immunisation regimen to ensure greater protection against COVID-19, a finding which aligns with the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities around the world for all types of COVID-19 vaccines2," he said.

The research, shared on bioRxiv's medical journal posting was conducted in China and examined the immune response of CoronaVac, in 120 participants. In the research conducted amongst the participants who have received three doses of the CoronaVac, the researchers isolated 323 human monoclonal antibodies (antibodies made by cloning a unique white blood cell), which target various virus areas for effective killing.

Out of these 323 antibodies, more than 300 antibodies exhibited adequate killing activity to most VOCs and Variant of Interest (VOI). The research also showed that the majority of these antibodies have the ability to react with the Omicron Receptor Binding Domains (RBD). In addition, about a dozen of antibodies show a direct and highly potent neutralisation effect for the Omicron variant. These antibodies executed their neutralisation by directly blocking the interactions between the virus and its human cells. Thus proving that the booster dose of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine will activate T cells against the Omicron variant, in a similar way to the original strain.

Pharmaniaga Berhad is the leading pharmaceutical Company of Boustead Holdings Berhad group of companies, and together with Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, are the major shareholders of the Company.

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1. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.24.474084v1.full.pdf
2. https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern

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About Pharmaniaga Berhad

Pharmaniaga is the leading pharmaceutical company of Boustead Holdings Berhad Group of Companies, which together with the Armed Forces Fund Board, are the major shareholders of the Company. Listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia, Pharmaniaga's core businesses are generic pharmaceuticals manufacturing; research and development; marketing and sales; warehousing and distribution of pharmaceutical and medical products; supply, trading and installation of medical and hospital equipment as well as community pharmacy.

With a vision to be the premier Malaysian pharmaceutical company, Pharmaniaga is guided by its philosophy of 'Do It Right Always' and is empowered by its motto of Passion for Patients. Strengthened by nine manufacturing plants, nationwide logistics and distribution in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as products registered in 15 countries, Pharmaniaga Group is positioned to be a regional player in the international pharmaceutical arena.

Forward-looking statement

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial conditions, results of operations and business of the Group and certain plans and objectives of Pharmaniaga Berhad with respect to these items. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Issued for Pharmaniaga Group by Corporate Communications Department, Pharmaniaga Berhad. For media enquiries, please contact Dato' Zuhri Iskandar Kamarzaman, Corporate Services Deputy Director of Pharmaniaga Berhad at 03-3342 999 ext 434 or by email [e-mail].

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