Vaccine showing promise in UK
Appropriate immune responses produced
LONDON – Scientists appear to be getting closer to developing a vaccine to treat the novel coronavirus. Two candidate vaccines, including a closely watched one developed at the University of Oxford, showed positive trial results Monday against the virus that causes COVID-19, making it more likely that a safe, effective vaccine can be developed quickly.
They add to two small studies on different vaccine candidates in the United States. All four candidate vaccines are leading to immune responses similar to those experienced by people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
LONDON – Two candidate vaccines, including a closely watched one being developed at the University of Oxford, showed positive trial results Monday against the virus that causes COVID-19, making it more likely that a safe, effective vaccine can be developed quickly.
They add to two smaller studies on different vaccine candidates in the U.S. that also appeared to be relatively safe and to trigger appropriate immune responses in study subjects.
Early stage trials only explore safety and dosing and cannot determine a vaccine’s effectiveness, but signs indicate that all four candidate vaccines are leading to immune responses similar to those experienced by people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
There are about 17 candidate vaccines being tested in people.
The new results showed Oxford University and drug company Astra Zeneca’s candidate vaccine, AZD-1222, led to strong immune responses for nearly two months in a trial that continues to track more than 1,000 healthy adults. A second dose, given to 10 patients, seems to have boosted their immune response further without adding significant side effects, according to a paper published Monday in The Lancet.
Half the volunteers were given the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and half were given a meningitis vaccine. The AZD-1222 vaccine caused more side effects conthat sidered minor than the meningitis one, but acetaminophen relieved most of the effects, the study found.
Dr. Anthony Pollard, professor of pediatric infection and immunity at the University of Oxford and chief investigator on the study, told reporters in a Zoom call the results were “an important milestone on the path to a development of a vaccine.”
The results in clinical trials cannot be compared against each other, but the fact that all have shown strong immune responses suggests “that we might have multiple hits on target,” Pollard said.
He and other scientists leading the study stressed much more work needed to be done, including gauging how well the vaccine could ultimately potentially protect the general population from falling ill with coronavirus. Indications of will only come with further trials on a larger group of people.
“We are seeing good immune response in almost everybody,” said Dr. Adrian Hill, Udirector of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. “What this vaccine does particularly well is trigger both arms of the immune system,” he said.
The next stage of trials in Britain will involve 10,000 people. In the U.S., 30,000 people will take part. And in Brazil and South Africa, about 7,000 people will test the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. If everything goes to plan, the vaccine could be rolled out widely by early next year.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot expects 50,000 will be vaccinated by year’s end.