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The AstraZeneca Plc Covid-19 vaccine has shown limited efficacy against mild disease caused by the variant first identified in South Africa, according to early data in a small-scale trial.
Efficacy against adverse cases of Covid-19, hospitalization and deaths has not yet been proven, “because the subjects were mostly healthy young adults,” a spokeswoman for AstraZeneca said in a statement.
None of the study participants died or were hospitalized, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the findings of the study. The study, with a relatively small sample size of more than 2,000 people, was not peer-reviewed and is expected to be published Monday, the newspaper said. Patients in the randomized, double-blind study had a mean age.
“We believe our vaccine could protect against serious disease, as neutralizing antibody activity is similar to the other Covid-19 vaccine that has proven activity against more severe disease, especially when the dosing period is increased to 8-12 weeks, ”said an AstraZeneca spokesperson.
Initial data indicate that other immune responses, such as T-cell responses, may remain intact in various South Africans, the spokesman said.
The variability first identified in South Africa is emerging as a major threat to the world’s prospects for ending the pandemic as countries eradicate. original vaccine doses. Although vaccine makers said their pictures they seem to be maintaining effectiveness against changes in the UK, pharma companies are racing to develop enhanced views against new changes as the virus grows.
Oxford University and AstraZeneca have begun changing their vaccine against this variant, the spokesman said. If necessary, they will move forward through clinical development until it is ready for delivery in the autumn.
Earlier this week, Astra’s executive vice president for biopharmaceutical research halted expectations about how the vaccine would work against the variant.
“It will come as no surprise to us to see lower efficiency,” said Mene Pangalos. “There is expected to be less activity.”
(Updated reports from AstraZeneca starting in the second paragraph.)