An early-stage human trial for a coronavirus vaccine produced antibodies in all 45 participants, biotech company Moderna announced Monday.
Moderna has worked with the National Institutes of Health on the development of a vaccine since early January. The company is set to begin a second stage of the study soon and is planning a late-stage trial in July, with the goal of having a vaccine ready for emergency use by the fall.
The trial used 45 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55, who were randomly given one of three dose strengths (25 micrograms, 100 micrograms, and 250 micrograms) for two shots.
All participants developed antibodies that were detectable. There were “dose dependent increases in immunogenicity” across the three levels, according to Moderna.
The 15 volunteers who were given the smallest doses had antibodies at similar levels to those who have recovered from the virus. The volunteers given the stronger doses are still being tracked. Moderna said three people given the highest dosage had severe but not life-threatening symptoms after the second dosage.
“All adverse events have been transient and self-resolving,” the company said.
With no treatment available, the coronavirus has killed more than 315,000 people worldwide and infected nearly 5 million people, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
