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COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna is 94.5% effective

Moderna develops a COVID-19 vaccine that is 94.5% effective.

Moderna conducted phase 3 trials for their mRNA COVID-19 vaccine that has proved 94.5% effective. The unreleased vaccine called mRNA-1273 has met the statistical criteria laid out in a study protocol to test US vaccine candidates’ efficacy.

The trial’s key endpoint was called COVE, for which analysis of COVID-19 cases verified and settled 2 weeks after the second dosage of the vaccine was done, as explained by Moderna in their statement. 

95 cases were analyzed in the first analysis, and the COVID-19 vaccine was seen to have 94.5%efficacy. There were 11 severe cases in the second endpoint, which didn’t occur in the group that received mRNA-1273 injection but in a placebo treatment group. 

The company has been working on developing the COVID-19 vaccine since January 2020, said Moderna’s chief executive officer, Stéphane Bancel. With the favorable results obtained for the interim evaluation for their phase 3 trials, they have received initial scientific validation that the vaccine can prevent severe infection forms. 

Side-effects of mRNA-1273

The scientists reported minor and short-lived side effects from the trial. Some adverse effects had more than a 2% frequency in occurrence after the initial dosage. These included 2.7% injection pain, 9.7% fatigue, 8.9% myalgia, 5.2% arthralgia, 4.5% headache, and 4.1% pain. These results may differ upon further analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Current anticipations

The company is expected to have its final data from the safety and efficacy analysis, after which it can appeal for a EUA (Emergency Use Authorisation) from the FDA. They anticipate sending regulatory filings in nations worldwide. 

Moderna expects to have virtually 20 million dosages of the COVID-19 vaccine all set to deliver in the US by the end of this year while manufacturing 500 million-1 billion dosages worldwide. 

mRNA-1273 trials are being carried out as a joint effort of NIAID (National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease), a part of NIH (National Institutes of Health) and BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority), which belongs to HHS (Health and Human Services). 

Moderna is set to carry out clinical trials along with production as agreed by the government. As revealed in mid-august, the HHS, along with DoD (Department of Defense), has a contract with Moderna to produce and supply 100 million dosages of the COVID-19 vaccine. These doses belong to the government, which can additionally procure 400 million dosages. 

Light at the end of the tunnel

While clinical trials are underway, producing the vaccine will accelerate developing the vaccine and delivering them safely all across the US by the end of the year, fulfilling the Operation warp speed goal. This operation has provided 2 billion dollars for the production and delivery of the vaccine. 

Alex Azar, the HHS secretary,  acknowledged the fact that mRNA-1273 is the second most efficient candidate of phase 3 clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine. He said that this was a remarkable outcome of Trump’s leadership and support and gave hope to end this pandemic.

Source

Author: Deepthi Prakash

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