| The success of a large trial of Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine candidate not only suggested that it will likely add to the supply of coronavirus vaccines, but positioned it as a potential promising technology to use for booster shots. The shot was 90% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid and 100% effective at preventing moderate and severe symptoms, U.S.-based Novavax said Monday. It was also 93% effective against variants of concern, according to results from a secondary analysis that mostly included cases of the alpha variant predominant in the U.S. The data "clearly position Novavax as a viable alternative to mRNA vaccines," Kelechi Chikere, an analyst at Jefferies, wrote in a note. Over time, Novavax's vaccine could become a "universal booster" due to its high efficacy and low rate of side effects, according to the note.  Novavax's Covid vaccine Photographer: Alastair Grant/AP The vaccine is based on a recombinant protein technology, also used in the candidate developed by Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. At over 90%, the overall efficacy of the vaccine is similar to reported rates for messenger RNA shots developed by partners Pfizer and BioNTech as well as Moderna's. In the U.S., the vaccine may be primarily used as a booster, Novavax executives said, citing the low rate of side effects and ability to ship at refrigerator temperatures. That could be a valuable addition to the vaccine arsenal.—Robert Langreth and Todd Gillespie | 
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