The vaccine being developed by the North American Pfizer and the German BioNTech proved to be more than 90% effective in preventing covid-19 infections in phase 3 clinical trials, which is still ongoing, the pharmaceutical company announced.
“Protection in patients was achieved seven days after the second of two doses and 28 days after the first, according to preliminary data”, indicated.
Among the 43 538 participants in this testing phase (not all received the vaccine, some received a placebo), Pfizer identified 94 positive covid-19 cases, with a percentage of effectiveness greater than 90%.
“The first results of Phase 3 testing of the covid-19 vaccine show initial proof of our vaccine’s ability to prevent covid-19,” said Pfizer President Albert Bourla.
“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most, with infection rates reaching new records, hospitals at peak capacity and economies struggling to reopen. With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with the innovation needed to help end this global health crisis, “added Bourla, mentioned in the company statement.
The third phase of the BNT162b2 vaccine clinical trial started on July 27 and involved 43 538 participants so far, 38 955 of whom received a second dose of the vaccine until November 8. About 42% of participants globally and 30% of participants in the USA came from diverse racial and ethnic groups. The tests continue and should continue until 164 cases of infection by covid-19 have been detected (94 have already been detected). The third stage is the last one before approval.
Pfizer is expecting to have a two-month set of data on the safety of the vaccine after the second dose, a requirement of the US authorities before they can authorize emergency use. You are expected to have this information in the third week of November. Pfizer and BioNTech hope to produce 50 million doses of vaccine this year and, by 2021, up to 1.3 billion doses.
The North American company Moderna, several Chinese state laboratories and a European project led by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca will also be close to a viable vaccine. Two Russian vaccines have already been registered, before clinical trials have ended, so they have not been universally accepted outside Russia.
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