Oxford University says phase 2 trial results of the COVID-19 vaccine they’re developing with pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca show that “the vaccine causes few side effects, and induces immune responses in both parts of the immune system in all age groups,” meaning it appears to work just as well for both younger and older patients. The report, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, also says phase 3 trial results are expected within weeks.
Oxford-Astra Zeneca was an early COVID-19 vaccine development frontrunner but it has since been outpaced by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, both of which announced their phase 3 trial results in the last two weeks and say they will seek FDA emergency use authorization very soon, with planned widespread distribution in the coming months. Oxford says they plan to produce and distribute three billion doses of their vaccine, three times more than any other manufacturer to date, and will also offer it to developing countries at no profit in perpetuity.
Oxford-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine phase 2 results released; phase 3 results expected within weeks
