AstraZeneca's AZD1222 seen effective against new coronavirus strain

 

• AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) says its COVID-19 vaccine should be effective against the new coronavirus variant, with studies under way to fully probe the impact of the mutation - Reuters.
• “AZD1222 (AstraZeneca’s vaccine candidate) contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein, and the changes to the genetic code seen in this new viral strain do not appear to change the structure of the spike protein,” an AstraZeneca representative said in an email.
• “Through vaccination with AZD1222, the body’s immune system is trained to recognize many different parts of the spike protein, so that it can eliminate the virus if it is later exposed,” the AstraZeneca representative added.
• The mutation known as the B.1.1.7 lineage is up to 70% more transmissible and has prompted stringent lockdowns in U.K. and wave of travel ban.
• India is likely to approve Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine for emergency use by next week, Reuters reported. This could be the first country to give the regulatory green light for the British drugmaker’s vaccine.
• The Indian regulator is only considering the two full-dose regimen of the shot despite it showing a lower success rate, the sources said.
• Also, BioNTech expects that its vaccine will provide protection against U.K. coronavirus variant.
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3646878-astrazenecas-azd1222-expected-to-be-effective-against-new-coronavirus-strain-reuters