Four vials with the "Nuvaxovid" COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax are pictured in Saabruecken, Germany, February 26, 2022. REUTERS/Frank Simon/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) expects to decide on the use of Novavax's (NVAX.O) updated COVID-19 vaccine in October, its director Emer Cooke said on Thursday. The agency had started the evaluation process for the protein-based shot on Aug. 24, Cooke said at a press conference. EU regulators recently gave the green light for an updated COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (PFE.N) and its German partner BioNTech (22UAy.DE), which targets the XBB.1.5 variant of Omicron. Moderna's (MRNA.O) updated shot is also on track to win approval.

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Persons: Frank Simon, Emer Cooke, Cooke, BioNTech, Novavax, Bhanvi, Michael Erman, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty Organizations: REUTERS, European Medicines Agency, Pfizer, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Moderna, Thomson Locations: Saabruecken, Germany, United States, Bengaluru, New York