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LONDON (Reuters) – AstraZeneca
“This is a routine action that has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials,” AstraZeneca said in an emailed statement.
Below are the reactions of scientists, drug makers, and stock market traders and analysts to the news:
SCIENTISTS:
Ian Jones, Professor of Virology at the University of Reading:
“An unavoidable consequence of testing a vaccine on large numbers of people is that some will naturally become ill from other causes during the trial.
We have to wait and see what the investigation shows in this case, but for now, I think regrettable rather than sinister would be the best description of the high. “
Charlie Weller, Wellcome Vaccine Program Director:
“Safety is the most important consideration when developing any vaccine, and it is okay for the trial to be stopped while an investigation is being conducted.
This is usually a normal part of the process in vaccine trials, which involve tens of thousands of people. It is essential to quickly understand whether the disease is related to the vaccine or the placebo and to share data openly, as the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca have done.
“Vaccines are among the most rigorously tested and monitored products we have in society, and COVID-19 vaccines should be no different.”
James Gill, Honorary Clinical Professor at Warwick School of Medicine and Locum GP, said:
“During the development of any drug, people will develop side effects, so we know that ibuprofen can cause heartburn.
People will also get sick during the natural course of their lives while they have received the vaccine. We know that the flu vaccine does not cause the flu, but some people can be unlucky and catch a virus the moment they get vaccinated.
Personally, I would be suspicious of a vaccine for a new virus that developed without setbacks or pauses.
The science on television is excellent and is usually completed within the course of an episode. In a real laboratory, chemistry, patients and biology do not usually follow a simple and pleasant course, so from the beginning scientists have said that the development of this COVID vaccine will take considerable time to be correct and safe. ” .
Stephen Evans, Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine:
“We do not know what event has occurred, but given that people over 70 years of age have been included in the trials in the UK, coincidental events are to be expected.
Very occasionally, what might be expected in an older person, such as a stroke (and this is certainly not a suggestion that it is such an event that has happened here), can occur in a young person.
“This same incident shows that the Oxford trial, and any other trial conducted in the UK, is monitored very carefully and precautions are taken to protect both the trial participants and those who might receive the vaccine in the future.
It is premature to speculate whether the vaccine caused the adverse event, and even if it is ultimately concluded that it is possible that the vaccine was the cause, there may be other factors involved and it would not necessarily mean that the vaccine could not be used in all. “
COMPANIES:
Germany’s Leukocare is working with Italy’s ReiThera and Belgium’s Univercells on a monkey adenovirus-based vaccine that is in early human trials.
Chief Executive Officer Michael Scholl said the discontinuation of a clinical trial was not unusual:
“When 20,000 people are vaccinated, it is a foregone conclusion that at some point there will be serious adverse effects. As soon as a link to the vaccine can be clearly ruled out, the trial continues.”
He added that something as common as a heart attack could halt a vaccine trial, though he cautioned that any immune-related condition, such as inflammation, would be subject to particular scrutiny.
Modern
Serum Institute of India (SII):
“We cannot comment much on the UK trials but they have been paused for further review and hope to restart soon. As far as the Indian trials are concerned, it continues and we have not faced any problems.”
TRADERS AND ANALYSTS:
Shares of AstraZeneca in London fell more than 3% at the open after the news. Shares listed on the FTSE-100 were down 1.5% as of 0943 GMT.
Mirabaud merchant Mark Taylor:
“These headlines will be delayed, but it is not an unusual step in the process. The only unusual thing is the amount of attention that is being drawn.
“This hurts the vaccine hope trade, which had soared and has been a major driver in part of the factor style rotation seen lately.”
Neil Wilson at Markets.com:
“Such are the problems with putting hope in a vaccine to make it possible to get back to normal. The concern is that while we have all assumed that a company will introduce a vaccine later this year, it is not going to be clear navigation.”
Citi analysts:
“The risk of a potentially vaccine-related serious material adverse event in one of the multiple large COVID-19 trials was always a high probability event.”
“(The) development may negatively affect timelines for other COVID-19 vaccine sponsors. While AstraZeneca’s current share price is discounting little economic value of COVID-19, we expect negative initial action and broader reaction. market today in response to the news. ”
UBS:
“Even if the vaccine works, tolerability may be its Achilles heel, and in general the long-term safety of all candidate vaccines will remain an open question even if we get efficacy data later this year or early next year. .
For those who think that the Oxford / AZN collaboration is a stepping stone to becoming a vaccine player, we remind investors that AZN has repeatedly said that their involvement in developing a SARS-Cov2 vaccine is not a commercial venture. “.
(Reporting by Josephine Mason, Kate Kelland and Thyagaraju Adinarayan in London and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Edited by Hugh Lawson)
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