The coronavirus vaccine that University of Oxford is developing with AstraZeneca has showed promising results in early human testing. The vaccine, called AZD1222, did not prompt any serious side effects and elicited antibody and T-cell immune responses, according to trial results published in The Lancet medical journal. Doses of the vaccine were given to 1,077 healthy adults aged between 18 and 55 in five UK hospitals in April and May as part of the phase one clinical trial and results.
Scientists at Oxford University, stated that their experimental vaccine had been shown to trigger a protective immune response in hundreds of people who got the shot. “We now need to move into larger-scale real-world trials. But it is good to see more data and more products moving into this very important phase of vaccine discovery,” said Michael Ryan, Emergencies Chief at WHO.
Experts highlight that the encouraging data has raised the prospect that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available by the end of this year. However, these are early results of Phase 1 & 2 human trials and may not be enough to conclusively prove efficacy. Data from the ongoing larger trials will provide more input on whether the vaccine offers protection and for how long.
The UK has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has signed manufacturing tie-ups with multiple vaccine manufacturers, including Indian firm Serum Institute of India. AstraZeneca has already committed to making 2 billion doses, with nearly half coming from the Indian partner.
Serum Institute of India (SII) said it will apply for a license from the Indian regulator to start clinical trials of the shot in a week’s time. SII, the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world, has been chosen by Oxford and its partner AstraZeneca to manufacture the vaccine once it gets ready. Earlier, Pune-based SII had stated that it will start manufacturing the vaccine even before the final nod so as to be ready with sizable volumes once the vaccine gets all permissions.
