Yet another coronavirus vaccine in the works has shown high levels of effectiveness.
The University of Oxford released results from its phase three trial today showing the vaccine can offer as much as 90% effectiveness against the virus.
It follows announcements from Pfizer and BioNTech and Moderna showing their vaccines appear to have up to 95% effectiveness.
An interim analysis of the Oxford vaccine including 131 COVID-19 cases indicates the vaccine is 70.4% effective.
But that is based on combining data from two different dosing strategies.
In one strategy, the vaccine was 90% effective, while in the other it was 62%.
The 90% effectiveness strategy was based on using a halved first dose and standard second dose, scientists explained.
Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and chief investigator of the trial, said the vaccine “will save many lives.”
“Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective and if this dosing regimen is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply. Today’s announcement is only possible thanks to the many volunteers in our trial, and the hard working and talented team of researchers based around the world.”
The team said the vaccine is particularly useful because it is much easier to store than the other two vaccines and should therefore be easier to distribute around the world.
The vaccine could also reduce transmission from asymptomatic infections, the analysis found.
There were no hospitalizations among people given the vaccine.
“The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by SARS-CoV-2,” Professor Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said.
“We will continue to work to provide the detailed information to regulators.”
The firm AstraZeneca will now prepare to apply for regulatory approval to deploy the vaccine around the world.
The vaccine consists of a genetically modified common cold virus.
It has been modified to prevent it causing an infection, while still giving the immune system a chance to prepare for the coronavirus.
