Between Pfizer and Moderna what is the difference other than dose? Didn't they use the same mRNA? So what was the science behind them choosing different doses? Were they guessing or were they colluding?
So, what was the science behind the different doses? Does anyone know if Pfizer and Moderna used different mRNA?
The different doses were guesses made to balance effectiveness with severity of side effects. (Earlier Moderna trials, at least, had included even higher doses, which could cause pretty severe side effects.) Their choices had to be locked in early, based on very limited preliminary trial data, in order to run their phase 3 trials as quickly as possible, to actually bring the vaccines to market quickly in 2020. They just made somewhat different bets. I think it's as simple as that.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/health/moderna-covi... https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/health/pfizer-biont...
I don't think they are paywalled. Worth a read.