Pfizer Also Shows 95% Immunity Effect Against COVID-19... Emergency Use Authorization Application Planned (Comprehensive)

Final Results of Clinical Trial... Expectation for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Formed

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] CNN reported on the 18th (local time) that the final results showed a 95% immune efficacy for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine jointly developed by the US company Pfizer and the German company BioNTech.

According to CNN, Pfizer analyzed 170 patients infected with COVID-19 among participants in the phase 3 trial, finding that 8 patients contracted COVID-19 despite receiving the vaccine. The remaining 162 patients had been given a placebo. Pfizer explained that the vaccine developed this time did not show serious side effects.

Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, stated, "This research result marks an important step in the historic eight-month journey to develop a vaccine that will help end this catastrophic pandemic."

In a joint statement with BioNTech, Pfizer explained that "the preventive effect showed consistency across age, race, and ethnic distribution maps," and that the preventive effect exceeded 94% even in the elderly aged 65 and over.

Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University, told the New York Times (NYT) that it was a "very surprising result," highlighting the excellent efficacy even in the elderly aged 65 and over, calling it a "truly remarkable achievement."

Pfizer plans to apply for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within a few days.

On the 9th, Pfizer had announced interim results based on the analysis of 94 participants in the phase 3 clinical trial, showing a preventive rate exceeding 90%. Pfizer's final result announcement came two days after Moderna announced a 95% immune efficacy.

Following Moderna, Pfizer's vaccine preventive rate also reaching 95% has raised expectations that widespread vaccine distribution will be possible.

Pfizer stated that if it receives emergency use approval from the FDA, it can supply up to 50 million doses within this year and plans to distribute an additional 1.3 billion doses by the end of next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.