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ILLUSTRATION. AstraZeneca halts global coronavirus vaccine trials
Source: Reuters | Editor: Anna Suci Perwitasari
KONTAN.CO.ID – LONDON. AstraZeneca Plc has finally halted global trials of the coronavirus vaccine it is currently developing. The termination of the trial, which has entered the final stage, takes place after a volunteer falls ill and is not clearly explained by the company.
As a result of the completion of this trial, AstraZeneca’s shares immediately fell more than 8% after the US Stock Exchange trading hours. Meanwhile, shares of rival vaccine developer Moderna Inc soared more than 4%.
Stock corrections also occurred at the AstraZeneca subsidiary in India. In which, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd shares on the Indian stock exchange fell more than 12% on Wednesday (9/9).
The vaccine, called AZD1222, is currently in its final stages of clinical trials in the US, UK, Brazil, and South Africa, with additional trials planned in Japan and Russia. The trial aims to enroll up to 50,000 participants worldwide.
Read also: AstraZeneca and Oxford stopped testing corona vaccine due to side effects from volunteers
South Korea said Wednesday that it would review the suspension and review its plans to participate in making the vaccine.
“It is not uncommon for clinical trials to be suspended due to various interacting factors,” Health Ministry official Yoon Tae-ho said in a brief explanation.
The coronavirus vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, has been described by the WHO as the leading candidate for a coronavirus vaccine and the most advanced in terms of development.
