Interim trial data for Moderna Covid-19 vaccine expected in November, perhaps October

Moderna will seek emergency use approval for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate if its proves to be at least 70% effective in the ongoing phase three clinical trials.

In remarks to Reuters, the biotechnology outfit's boss, Stephane Bancel, said that if its so-called mRNA vaccine is deemed "70 or 80 or 90% efficacy, we will indeed consider approval".

The reason being that at such rates of efficacy many lives that would otherwise be at risk might be saved, he added.

A final decision in that regard, balancing the potential benefit for vulnerable groups such as healthcare workers and the elderly against not yet having a full safety readout, would ultimately be the responsibility of the country's regulator, the Food and Drug Administration.

An interim analysis of the trial data, which has just finished enrolling 30,000 volunteers, will be ready in November, but perhaps as early as October.