- COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Researchers across the globe are working to develop a vaccine.
- Currently, there are 57 candidate vaccines on trial in 37 countries.
- Today, there are 12 candidate vaccines in stage 3 clinical trials.
11/30/2020 14:57 GMT — Moderna apply for approval for mRNA vaccine candidate in the US and Europe
Today, Moderna announced the completion of their phase 3 clinical trial primary efficacy analysis. The vaccine candidate is 94.1% effective against COVID-19 and 100% effective against severe COVID-19. The company will apply today for emergency use approval in the United States.
In addition, it will also apply to the European Medicines Agency for conditional marketing authorization.
11/26/2020 10:26 GMT — Scientists in the Netherlands plan ‘human challenge’ vaccine study
Scientists from Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands are hoping to deliberately transmit SARS-CoV-2 to participants to test vaccine efficacy. Already, 240 people have stepped forward to participate in the “human challenge” trial.
The trial has the support of 1Day Sooner, a nonprofit organization advocating for COVID-19 human challenge trial volunteers. In a press release, they write, “These studies may be essential to developing enough proven vaccines to vaccinate the whole world in 2021, not just the wealthy.”
11/23/2020 09:52 GMT — AstraZeneca’s ‘Oxford’ vaccine 70% effective
According to a recent press release, the experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University prevents just over 70% of people from developing COVID-19. Although this is lower than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, using a different dosing regimen may increase the protection to 90%.
09/14/2020 10:53 GMT — AstraZeneca resume vaccine trial
Last week, AstraZeneca paused a trial investigating an experimental vaccine. The move came following an illness in one participant. Following a review, the scientists are resuming the trial. The World Health Organization (WHO) have described this vaccine as a leading candidate.
09/02/2020 09:59 GMT — Third US vaccine reaches final trial stages
Today, AstraZeneca announced that their experimental vaccine had entered the final stage of testing. The upcoming study will involve up to 30,000 people in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. The vaccine was developed at the University of Oxford in the U.K.
