The coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is up to 90% effective, according to data from Phase 3 trials.
The results of the trial, which proved the vaccine to be 90% effective in one dosage amount and 62% effective in the other dosage amount resulting in an average efficacy of 70.4%, were announced in a university statement on Monday.
“I think these are really exciting results,” said Dr. Andrew Pollard, chief investigator for the trial, during a news conference, according to the Associated Press. “Because the vaccine can be stored at fridge temperatures, it can be distributed around the world using the normal immunization distribution system. And so our goal … to make sure that we have a vaccine that was accessible everywhere, I think we’ve actually managed to do that.”
The announcement comes days after Pfizer and Moderna vaccines showed nearly 95% efficacy. Unlike those vaccines, the AstraZeneca one does not require the same ultra-cold temperatures for storage and is much cheaper to produce. This vaccine is stored at “normal refrigerated conditions” of 6 degrees to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -94 degrees Fahrenheit.
The AstraZeneca vaccine costs approximately $2.50 to produce, while the Pfizer one costs approximately $20 a dose. Moderna’s will cost $25 to $37, based on their contractual agreements with the federal government.
This vaccine was more effective in smaller dosages than larger ones. When patients received two full doses of the vaccine, it was 62% effective, while the results came back with a 90% efficacy rate when the patient received half a dose followed by a full one.
“Today marks an important milestone in our fight against the pandemic,” said Pascal Soriot, the Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca. “This vaccine’s efficacy and safety confirm that it will be highly effective against COVID-19 and will have an immediate impact on this public health emergency. Furthermore, the vaccine’s simple supply chain and our no-profit pledge and commitment to broad, equitable and timely access means it will be affordable and globally available supplying hundreds of millions of doses on approval.”
The clinical trials included more than 24,000 participants from different racial and geographical groups in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa. There are additional trials in the United States, Kenya, Japan, and India.
The vaccine still needs to be approved by regulators before it can be widely distributed. AstraZeneca said it will apply for early approval and will look to make it available in low-income countries as well.
To date, there have been more than 58 million COVID-19 diagnoses while nearly 1.4 million people have died from the virus globally, according to the John Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.
