AstraZeneca "74% Vaccine Effectiveness in US Clinical Trials"

Published 30 Sep.2021 09:47(KST)

"No Severe Cases... Significant Effect in Preventing Hospitalization"
Formal Approval Application to US FDA Expected Within This Year

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] AstraZeneca (AZ)'s COVID-19 vaccine showed 74% efficacy in preventing symptomatic cases in a U.S. clinical trial.

On the 29th (local time), AstraZeneca announced this and stated that the vaccine's effectiveness for the elderly aged 65 and over reached 83.5%.

This result is slightly lower than the 76% efficacy AstraZeneca reported from clinical trial results on March 25.

At that time, AstraZeneca initially announced an efficacy of 79%, but after concerns were raised that some invalid data had been included, they revised the figure downward after three days.

This clinical trial was conducted with more than 26,000 volunteers across the Americas, including the United States, Chile, and Peru.

Volunteers received two doses of the vaccine at one-month intervals.

Among approximately 8,500 placebo recipients, 8 developed severe symptoms, while none of the approximately 17,600 vaccinated participants experienced severe symptoms.

There were 2 deaths among the placebo group, whereas no deaths occurred among the vaccinated group.

Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins University, who participated in the study, said about the results, "I was surprised by the study results," adding, "The effect in preventing severe symptoms and hospitalization was significant."

No cases of blood clotting side effects were reported in this clinical trial.

AstraZeneca announced at the end of July that it would apply for formal approval of its COVID-19 vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said on this day that they plan to submit the approval application in the U.S. by the end of this year. The company also stated that it is currently reviewing the use of booster shots for people who have already completed two doses of either their vaccine or the Pfizer vaccine.