Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated a durable immune response and elicited dual mechanisms of protection against delta and other SARS-CoV-2 variants in data published in NEJM

Interim results from a Phase 1/IIa sub-study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) demonstrated that both humoral (antibody) and cellular (T-cell) immune responses generated by the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine (JNJ 78436735) were strong and stable through eight months after immunization, the length of time evaluated to date. Data showed that T-cell responses – including the important CD8+ T-cells that seek out and destroy infected cells – persisted over the eight-month timeframe examined. Data from the study, conducted in collaboration with Dan Barouch, M.D., Ph.D., et al. of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, suggest maturation of B-cell response without further boosting. Mature B-cells produce antibodies, which can help fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

Findings indicate that a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine elicited dual mechanisms of protection against COVID-19 disease, including against disease caused by the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) and other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Epsilon (B.1.429) and Kappa (B.1.617.1) variants, as well as the original SARS-CoV-2 strain (WA1/2020). These data suggest an expansion of neutralizing antibodies over eight months, along with the observations of durable T-cell responses and the suggestion of B-cell maturation.

See-“Durable Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses 8 Months after Ad26.COV2.S Vaccination”-July 14, 2021.Dan H. Barouch, M.D., Ph.D. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2108829.