German group Curevac said Monday it will broaden its mRNA COVID vaccine trials to include new virus variants as it aims to file for EU approval in the second quarter.
The decision was taken because of the "rapid distribution of new variants" in European and Latin American countries where phase three trials have been in progress since late 2020, according to a statement.
The aim is to "determine efficacy of the vaccine candidate for select variants", the company said.
"Our goal is to offer the public and especially the vulnerable older age groups the best possible protection," said Ulrike Gnad-Vogt, interim chief development officer for Curevac.
The company is discussing the expansion of trials with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is already evaluating the vaccine, it said.
Curevac also reaffirmed its intention "to file for formal marketing authorisation within the second quarter", or from April through June.
Curevac said earlier this month it has signed a deal with Novartis for the Swiss pharmaceutical giant to help in its production of its vaccine.
The Swiss giant will make up to 50 million doses of the mRNA vaccine by the end of 2021 and up to 200 million doses in 2022.
Curevac also has a separate agreement with German chemicals giant Bayer to make the vaccine from 2022.
The European Commission has signed a contract for up to 405 million doses of the mRNA vaccine.
The EU has approved four vaccines so far: mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, and AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson's so-called viral vector vaccines.
It started a rolling review of the Curevac jab in February and is also examining Novavax's protein-based vaccine and Russia's Sputnik V.