Updated: November 25, 2020 5:31:57 pm
In this illustration, taken on September 9, 2020, a test tube labeled with the vaccine is seen in front of the AstraZeneca logo (Reuters Photo: Dado Ruvic).
Despite the overall efficacy reading of 70%, the vaccine AZD1222 developed by the major Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford might be better news than the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech Y Modern, even though both had previously reported much higher protection of up to 95 percent.
Here are five reasons why preliminary results for AZD1222 are more promising, both medically and for markets like India.
Half-dose booster
The analysis released by Oxford-AZ on Monday showed a striking difference in efficacy, depending on the amount of vaccine administered to a participant: a regimen comprising two full doses administered one month apart appeared to be only 62% effective while Interestingly, participants who received a smaller amount of the vaccine in a first dose and then the full amount in the second dose were 90 percent less likely to develop, compared to participants in the placebo group.
While the reasons for this are still being examined, the half-dose that provides the most protection is actually good news, as manufacturers will have more doses available to vaccinate people, making it possible to cover more of the population. population, especially in the first months when supply will be limited.
One possible explanation for half the dose working better is that this regimen likely mimics the body’s natural response to an infection: a fight against an infection directed by the first set of antibodies (phagocytes, interferons, and cytokines) before it is organize a more personalized attack. by specialized neutralizing antibodies – B cells and T cells.
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Additionally, the overall 70.4 percent efficacy results for the Oxford-AZ vaccine are even higher than most flu shots, offering 40 to 60 percent protection.
Coronavirus Vaccine: Pfizer has reported that its vaccine, BNT162b2, has been more than 90% effective in late stage trials. (Reuters photo: Dado Ruvic)
Efficacy in all age groups; effect in asymptomatic cases
The Oxford-AZ vaccine, based on preliminary results, shows that it works in all age groups, including the elderly. Furthermore, there is a really interesting clue in the preliminary data that the regimen may also reduce asymptomatic infection. Both aspects are seen as great advantages over the initial test results presented by the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna combine.
Crucially, if the Oxford-AZ vaccine is better at addressing symptomatic spread, it could allow countries to reach a point where authorities can stop the virus in its tracks and it cannot be transmitted from person to person. There will be much more data to come and during the next month on these aspects.
In addition, there were no serious cases or hospitalizations in the 23,000 people who received the vaccine.
All of these mark a significant improvement over the other two vaccine trial results published in the previous weeks.
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Much easier to store and distribute
Unlike Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which must be stored / transported at negative 20-80 degrees Celsius, the Oxford-AZ candidate can be stored closer to normal refrigerator temperatures, meaning it can be distributed and administered cheaper and faster to people.
The vaccine can be transported in normal refrigerated temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, AZ said Monday. By comparison, Pfizer has to distribute its vaccine using specially designed “heat carriers” that use dry ice to maintain temperatures of minus 80 degrees Celsius.
In the case of the Oxford-AZ vaccine, the normal supply chain of vaccines currently used in countries such as India can be used to supply this vaccine, especially in rural areas where cold chain logistics are weak. .
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Coronavirus Vaccine: On November 16, 2020, the American biotechnology company Moderna announced a vaccine against COVID-19 that is 94.5% effective. (File photo)
It will also be much cheaper
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is notably cheaper. AZ, which has promised that it will not make a profit from the vaccine during the pandemic, has reached agreements with governments and international health organizations such as Gavi that set its cost at around $ 2.50 per dose.
In contrast, Pfizer’s vaccine costs around $ 20 per dose, while Moderna’s costs more than $ 25. There is a theoretical possibility that the Oxford-AZ vaccine is even cheaper, given the finding that a starting dose a smaller one is more effective than a larger one.
It is produced in India and could be the first to reach the Indians.
Serum Institute of India’s Covishield, which the Pune-based company has been producing “at risk,” is a variant of AZD1222 and is currently undergoing late-stage human trials in India with 1,600 participants. As things pile up, this could be one of the first vaccines that could be used to inoculate Indians once India’s drug regulator approves the bridging study being conducted here.
Additionally, the results from the Oxford-AZ vaccine could be extremely positive news for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, which uses similar technology to AZD1222, the non-replicating viral vector method. The Russian vaccine is also being tested in India, with the participation of Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Labs.
India does not really have firm agreements for Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, which use the new mRNA technology, at present. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram
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