Benzinga | May 19, 2021 07:23AM EDT

Oxford/AstraZeneca Third Booster Strong Enough Against COVID-19 Variants, Study Shows: FT

* Oxford University and AstraZeneca Plc's (NASDAQ: AZN) COVID-19 vaccine works well as a third booster shot, according to a study, the Financial Times reported citing people familiar with the matter.

* A third booster shot showed "strong enough against any variant," despite concern that the immune system might fight off the adenovirus used as a delivery mechanism.

* Some scientists have feared that repeated use of the adenovirus vector - an inactivated cold virus - could stop the immune system from recognizing the virus's spike protein.

* However, the study found the participants' immune systems reacted to the adenovirus used to deliver the protein. Still, it had a far more significant reaction to the protein, according to the FT.

* It is not known when Oxford and AstraZeneca plan to publish study data, the paper added.

* Price Action: AZN shares are up 0.21% at $56.11 during the premarket session on the last check Wednesday.