June 5 (Reuters) -

Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on

Wednesday unanimously voted in favor of recommending that

COVID-19 vaccines for 2024-25 should target a strain within the

lineage of the JN.1 variant that have been dominant this year.

All 16 voting members of the panel recommended that FDA

ask companies target the JN.1 variant or a strain within its

lineage when the companies update their vaccines for fall

campaign.

Shares of Novavax ( NVAX ) were up 20% in afternoon

trade on Wednesday, while Moderna ( MRNA ) was up 4%. Pfizer ( PFE )

was marginally down.

COVID-19 vaccine makers earlier in the day said data

from animals studies showed their 2024-25 shots targeting the

JN.1 variant that was dominant earlier this year could

neutralize newer subvariants such as KP.2 much better than the

older shots.

Pfizer ( PFE ) and partner BioNTech will be ready to

supply their updated vaccines immediately upon approval, while

Moderna ( MRNA ) and Novavax ( NVAX ) forecast a timeline for August, the

companies said.

Pfizer ( PFE ) and Moderna ( MRNA ) said they are ready to supply vaccines

that target either JN.1 or KP.2. Novavax ( NVAX ) has said it would be

able to offer a vaccine in the United States this autumn if

regulators accept the shot it started manufacturing to target

the JN.1 variant.

Novavax ( NVAX ) makes a more traditional protein-based shot that

takes longer to manufacture, while vaccines based on messenger

RNA (mRNA) from Moderna ( MRNA ) and Pfizer ( PFE )/BioNTech can be developed

more quickly.

Pfizer ( PFE ) had earlier said it could make the shots in 100 days,

while Novavax ( NVAX ) on Wednesday said its vaccine generally requires

six months.