Pfizer/BioNTech to speed up vaccination of placebo arm in COVID trial

 

• In the ongoing late-stage trial for the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), the participants in the placebo arm will now have the option to receive the investigational vaccine by March 01, 2021, according to an announcement on a website about the study. 
• All subjects in the placebo arm will have two doses of the vaccine reserved. In the coming weeks, the volunteers will be offered the option to go unblind (To know if they were in the vaccine or placebo group) on a priority basis and receive the vaccine, the statement added.
• Despite arguments against such a move by the FDA and its advisors, the Vaccine Transition Option arrives a few months ahead of the initial plan, according to STATNews, as the coronavirus pandemic rages across the U.S. with the total number of cases exceeding 20M. 
• Meanwhile, citing the federal data, the Wall Street Journal reports that only 2.8M of 12M doses shipped by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) have been administered, risking the smooth rollout of the next phase targeting the older adults and essential workers.
• Involving 44,000 participants, the Phase 2/3 study of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech is currently in progress across 150 clinical trial sites in the U.S.
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3648181-pfizer-biontech-to-speed-up-vaccination-of-placebo-arm-in-covidminus-19-trial