“These results add to the growing body of evidence that shows this vaccine is well tolerated and highly effective against all severities of COVID-19 and across all age groups”
AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine provides strong protection against symptomatic cases and completely prevents severe disease and hospitalizations, according to a new late-stage study conducted in the United States, the company announced Monday.
The preliminary analysis — based on data from more than 32,000 volunteers in the U.S., Chile and Peru — found that AstraZeneca’s two-dose regimen is 79% effective at preventing general symptoms, higher than previous trials had suggested. The shots were also 100% effective at preventing more serious cases, a remarkable finding that could boost the vaccine’s shaken reputation after a troubled rollout in Europe and across the world.
More than a dozen countries recently suspended their use of AstraZeneca’s shot because of concerns over blood clots in a few dozen of the millions of people vaccinated so far. An investigation last week by the European Union’s drug regulator determined there was no link between the vaccine and blood clots, with the company noting Monday that its independent data safety monitoring board also found no safety concerns with the shot.
The latest findings clear the way for AstraZeneca to seek emergency-use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The shots, developed in partnership with Oxford University, have been authorized in more than 50 countries, but the company has yet to seek approval in the U.S., which is expected to happen in the coming weeks.
If authorized, AstraZeneca’s vaccine would give Americans a fourth option to protect themselves from COVID-19, along with similar shots by Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. The British vaccine is also cheaper and easier to store and distribute than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s, both of which have to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures.
“This analysis validates the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a much-needed additional vaccination option, offering confidence that adults of all ages can benefit from protection against the virus,” Ann Falsey, a University of Rochester School of Medicine professor and co-lead investigator for the trial, said in a statement.
The new Phase 3 study had more than any previous AstraZeneca vaccine trial, with two-thirds of participants receiving an actual vaccine while the rest got a placebo shot. None of those who received the vaccine developed severe symptoms or had to be hospitalized.
It was also the first time that the shots were found to be highly effective in people over 65.
“These results add to the growing body of evidence that shows this vaccine is well tolerated and highly effective against all severities of COVID-19 and across all age groups,” Mene Pangalos, executive vice president at AstraZeneca’s BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said in a news release.
“We are confident this vaccine can play an important role in protecting millions of people worldwide against this lethal virus,” he added.
Culled: NY Daily News
