AstraZeneca, Oxford University Say Their COVID-19 Vaccine Has 70% Efficacy

A coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, shows an average efficacy of 70.4%, AstraZeneca said.

The UK government has already ordered 100 million doses of the vaccine — called AZD1222 or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

Here are some of the key findings:

• One dosing regimen was shown to be 90% effective, the other 62%
• It was shown to work in different age groups, including the elderly
• The vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at 2-8 degrees Celsius for at least eight months
• It is hoped 3 billion doses of the vaccine could be supplied around the world by the end of 2021
• Here is how the vaccine works

Interim analysis from the latest phase three trial shows an average efficacy of 70.4% from combining two doses.

Professor Andrew Pollard, who is leading the vaccine trial, said the results would “save many lives.”

In a statement, he said: “Excitingly, we’ve found that one of our dosing regimens may be around 90% effective and if this dosing regime is used, more people could be vaccinated with planned vaccine supply.

“Today’s announcement is only possible thanks to the many volunteers in our trial, and the hard-working and talented team of researchers based around the world.”

The vaccine is made from a genetically engineered virus and resumed its combined phase 2/3 trial in the U.K. after a brief pause in September.

Findings from the first phases of the study earlier this year showed “promising” results which suggested the vaccine is “safe and causes few side effects” for healthy adults aged 18-55.

The phase two research demonstrated a strong immune response in older adults — suggesting one of the groups most vulnerable to serious illness and death from COVID-19 could build immunity.

The vaccine was developed at the University of Oxford’s Oxford Jenner Institute and is made from a genetically engineered virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It is based on earlier work to produce a treatment for MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus).

The chimpanzee virus is modified and engineered to express the coronavirus spike protein so it “looks” more like coronavirus to trigger a strong immune response in the human body.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the news was “incredibly exciting.”

Business secretary Alok Sharma also tweeted: “Very promising data from the Oxford/AstraZeneca Phase III clinical trials.

“We are on the cusp of a huge scientific breakthrough that could protect millions of lives.

“The UK has secured early access to 100m doses of their vaccine – on top of 255m doses from other developers.”

Professor Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: “The announcement today takes us another step closer to the time when we can use vaccines to bring an end to the devastation caused by SARS-CoV-2.

“We will continue to work to provide detailed information to regulators.

“It has been a privilege to be part of this multi-national effort which will reap benefits for the whole world.”