Efficacy of Astra-Oxford vaccine ranges from 62% to 90%, depending on dosage

• Following the vaccine trial successes of Pfizer and Moderna, which both showed efficacy rates of around 95%, AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) and the University of Oxford have released an interim analysis of their clinical trials.
• One regimen, given to some 2,700 people, showed an effectiveness of 90% when trial participants received a half dose, followed by a full dose at least one month apart. The other dosing regimen, given to nearly 9,000 people, showed 62% efficacy when given as two full doses at least one month apart. The combined analysis from both dosing regimens found average vaccine effectiveness of 70%.
• Despite the lower efficacy, the British shot has some distribution advantages. While vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have to be stored frozen, the Astra-Oxford jab can be kept at refrigerator temperature and comes at a potentially lower cost.
• AstraZeneca also said there were no serious adverse safety events and the vaccine was tolerated well across both dosing groups. Late-stage clinical trials of the vaccine are continuing in the U.S. following a pause during most of September and October.
• "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," said Professor Andrew Pollard, chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial.
• The stakes for lower- and middle-income nations are immense, as the shot accounts for more than 40% of the supplies going to those countries.
• AstraZeneca is already preparing regulatory submission of the data to health authorities around the world that have a framework in place for conditional or early approval.
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3638540-efficacy-of-astra-oxford-vaccine-ranges-from-62-to-90-depending-on-dosage