Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 89.3% effective, interim results show
A COVID-19 vaccine is 89.3% effective at preventing the virus, including new variants, interim results show.
The Phase III Novavax study is the largest ever double blind, placebo-controlled trial to be undertaken in the UK.
It recruited over 15,000 participants from 35 UK sites in just over two months, including more than 460 at Oxford’s Warneford Hospital.
The interim efficacy data and safety data will be submitted to all regulators across the world - including the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK - for independent scrutiny and product approval.
A significant proportion of participants taking part in the study were recruited through the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry, where people sign up to be contacted about taking part in vaccine studies.
Half the volunteers were given two injections of the vaccine candidate, 21 days apart, while the remaining received a placebo.
Clive Dix, Chair, UK Vaccine Taskforce, said: “These are spectacular results, and we are very pleased to have helped Novavax with the development of this vaccine.
“The efficacy shown against the emerging variants is also extremely encouraging. This is an incredible achievement that will ensure we can protect individuals in the UK and the rest of the world from this virus.”
Visit the NIHR website to read more.
