Companies Pfizer and BioNTech announced Monday, Novermber 9 a success in their first interim analysis for the COVID-19 vaccine from Phase 3 study. The evidence of the study shows efficacy rate above 90% at preventing disease, measured about a week after trial participants had the second dose, on the case split between vaccinated individuals and to those group of participants who were given a placebo. In the press release, Pfizer and BioNtech said that they had identified 94 cases of COVID-19 among 43,538 trial participants.
“Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO. “I want to thank the thousands of people who volunteered to participate in the clinical trial, our academic collaborators and investigators at the study sites, and our colleagues and collaborators around the world who are dedicating their time to this crucial endeavor,” added Bourla. “We could not have come this far without the tremendous commitment of everyone involved.”
“The first interim analysis of our global Phase 3 study provides evidence that a vaccine may effectively prevent COVID-19. This is a victory for innovation, science and a global collaborative effort,” said Prof. Ugur Sahin, BioNTech co-founder and CEO.
The Phase 3 clinical trial began last July 27 and has enrolled 43,538 participants to date, 38,955 of whom have received a second dose of the vaccine candidate as of November 8, 2021. Approximately participants were composed of 42% (global) and 30% (U.S). The trial is continuing to enroll and is expected to continue through the final analysis when a total of 164 confirmed COVID-19 cases have accrued.
This is a good news for all of us, as we already entered last quarter of 2020 and about to end this year, may this Global Pandemic be put to an end.
