Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine safe, produces immune response
The coronavirus vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford was found to produce both antibodies and T-cells and to be "safe, tolerated, and immunogenic", according to results of a phase 1 human trial published in The Lancet on Monday.
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The results confirmed that a single dose of AZD1222 resulted in a four-fold increase in antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein in 95% of participants one month after injection. In all participants, a T-cell response was induced, peaking by day 14, and maintained two months after injection.
Neutralising activity against the virus was seen in 91% of participants one month after vaccination and in all participants who received a second dose.
Medical journal The Lancet said: "2ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 showed an acceptable safety profile, and homologous boosting increased antibody responses. These results, together with the induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses, support largescale evaluation of this candidate vaccine in an ongoing phase 3 programme."
Phase 3 trials are now underway in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK and will evaluate vaccine efficacy in diverse populations at different doses and in different age ranges.
Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca said: "We are encouraged by the Phase I/II interim data showing AZD1222 was capable of generating a rapid antibody and T-cell response against SARS-CoV-2.
"While there is more work to be done, today’s data increases our confidence that the vaccine will work and allows us to continue our plans to manufacture the vaccine at scale for broad and equitable access around the world."
AZD1222 was co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein.
Astrazeneca shares surged 10% to as high as 10,120p after the news came out but had pared gains to trade up just 0.8% at 9,257p by 1505 BST.
The UK government has already ordered 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
A trader pointed out that the language in The Lancet is very similar to what press reports signalled last week, so it’s hard to say this data is really incremental.
He said the phase 3 trials are the most important event as they will determine whether the immunological responses triggered by multiple vaccine candidates actually confer immunity.