Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine shows more than 90 percent efficacy
Encouraging news about the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate comes at a time when infection rates soar
Pfizer announces that its vaccine candidate against COVID-19 effectively prevented infection in 90 percent of previously uninfected people with no serious safety concerns.1
As the first promising vaccine candidate for the virus, the company’s mRNA-based drug BNT162b2 could be a breakthrough in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The company says it plans to submit the drug for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of November.
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Pfizer developed the vaccine alongside German pharmaceutical company BioNTech. Together, they enrolled 43,538 participants in the Phase 3 study, which began on July 27, 2020. As of November 8, 2020, 38,955 participants received a second dose of the vaccine candidate.
The trial will continue to enroll through the final analysis when a total of 164 confirmed COVID-19 cases have accrued, according to a Pfizer statement.1
“The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” says Albert Bourla, DVM, PhD, Pfizer chairman and CEO. “We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data generated from thousands of participants in the coming weeks.”
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Reference
1. Pfizer. Pfizer and BioNTech accounce vaccine candidate against COVID-19 achieved success in first interim analysis from phase 3 study. Available at: https://investors.pfizer.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2020/Pfizer-and-BioNTech-Announce-Vaccine-Candidate-Against-COVID-19-Achieved-Success-in-First-Interim-Analysis-from-Phase-3-Study/default.aspx. Accessed 11/9/20.
