(GermanPolicy.com) – BioNTech and Pfizer have started a first clinical trial for a vaccine against the omicron variant of the coronavirus. 1,420 subjects aged 18 to 55 have agreed to take part in the study, which aims to ensure the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of the vaccine. A new vaccine could be on the market as early as March. It will have a longer protective effect. BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said the goal is to develop a variant-based vaccine “that offers similar protection against omicron as observed with previous variants, but at the same time lasts longer.”