Modern vaccine is 94.5% effective, according to preliminary results

SAÕ PAULO – The modern biotechnology company, Inc., said on Monday (16) that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing Covid-19, according to a preliminary analysis of its clinical trial. The news comes a week after Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine was more than 90% effective.

The results of both vaccines come from preliminary analyzes of large clinical studies and have not yet been published in any scientific journal. The Modern Phase Three study involved 30,000 volunteers, half of whom received two doses of the vaccine 28 days apart, the other half received two doses of a placebo in the same regimen.

There were 95 cases of Covid-19 disease among study participants and only five of those cases were in the vaccinated group, while the other 90 who became ill were in the group that received the placebo. Of these, 11 severe cases of the disease occurred.

The results indicate that the vaccine is inducing the type of immune response that protects people if they were exposed to the coronavirus, since the number of infected people in the “vaccine group” was much lower compared to the control group that received the placebo.

“This positive interim analysis from our phase 3 study gave us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent Covid-19 disease, including serious diseases,” Stéphane Bancel, Moderna CEO, said in a statement.

Similarities between vaccines

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use the same technology to make their vaccines, based on a molecule known as mRNA or messenger RNA. This molecule contains genetic instructions for making proteins within cells.

For the vaccine, the researchers created an mRNA with the code to make the protein. spike of the coronavirus. Protein is the key to infectious cells of the virus. It is also what can cause a person’s immune system to produce antibodies against the virus, but without causing infection, since the rest of the virus is absent.

It is important to remember that only the two mRNA vaccines are showing good results, which is already remarkable to science as a whole. This is because the procedure of using mRNA for vaccines is an unprecedented feat in the history of mankind.

“The fact that another RNA vaccine shows protection inaugurates a new era of vaccines, with genetic vaccines that can be produced much more quickly. We will be less vulnerable next time ”, explained Natalia Pasternak, Phd in Microbiology and CEO of the Questão de Ciência Institute (IQC), InfoMoney

Also read: Will the second wave of the pandemic reach Brazil? See what 3 authorities say on the subject

Natalia also remembers that it is easier to synthesize an RNA vaccine, since it is not necessary to grow the virus or purify the protein, just have the sequence of the virus. Still, the scientist appreciates this advance.

Recently, after preliminary results from the Pfizer vaccine, doctors told the InfoMoney that, although the announcement is encouraging, these experts point out that the result is partial and that the vaccine has yet to reach the population, and the same happens with the results of the Moderna vaccine.

Similar techniques, different protocols

The Moderna and Pfizer studies were conducted using slightly different protocols. To be counted as a case of Covid-19, participants in Moderna’s study had to have at least two symptoms of the disease, in addition to a positive test for the virus.

The Pfizer study required only one symptom and one positive test. Additionally, Moderna waited 14 days after the second injection to begin counting cases; The Pfizer study started counting from a week after application.

Vaccines also differ in their storage requirements. Moderna says its vaccine can be safely stored in freezers at around -4 ° C, a temperature that a home freezer can easily reach.

Pfizer’s vaccine requires storage in specialized freezers capable of cooling to below -70 ° C, which makes the logistics of distribution and storage of the immunizers difficult. Moderna also says that its vaccine will remain potent for up to 30 days at normal refrigeration temperatures, which should facilitate distribution.

Race for vaccines

Both Pfizer and Moderna are still collecting safety data that the US drug regulatory agency, FDA, said was needed to consider an emergency use authorization that would allow companies to distribute the vaccine during the pandemic.

Dr. Antony Fauci, the White House chief infectologist, has already expressed cautious optimism about the modern vaccine, calling the trial “quite promising.”

“I said that I would be satisfied with a 75% effective vaccine. Aspirationally, you’d like to see 90.95%, but you didn’t expect that. I thought it would be good, but 94.5 percent is very impressive, “said the doctor.

Side effects observed for the modern vaccine in the interim analysis included pain at the injection site, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. The data security and surveillance board has not identified “significant security concerns.” Moderna said it plans to register “in the next few weeks” with the FDA for authorization of the company’s vaccine for emergency use.

The minimum effectiveness of a vaccine required by the FDA is 50%, so Moderna’s vaccine is a great candidate for agency approval. Natalia, however, believes that the deadlines for an approval by the US regulatory agency should still take a few months.

“In terms of timing, it doesn’t change much, both Pfizer and Moderna need to wait two months after the last dose to request an emergency use authorization from the FDA,” explained the researcher.

The US federal “Operation Warp Speed” project, designed to accelerate the development of Covid-19 vaccines in the United States, provided Moderna with $ 1.5 billion in August funding to increase manufacturing and deliver 100 million doses of vaccines to the country, enough for 50 million people. The government has the option to buy up to 400 million more doses.

Moderna also said Monday that it expects to be able to ship about 20 million doses of vaccines to the US by the end of 2020. Next year, the company said it expects to be able to produce between 500 million and 1 billion doses in all the world.

The Unknown Side of Options: Free InfoMoney Training Teaches You How To Turn Assets Into A Recurring Source Of Income – Look!