US biotech firm Moderna reported "positive interim" results on Monday in the first clinical tests of its vaccine against the coronavirus performed on a small number of volunteers.
In the eight trial subjects who received it, the vaccine, mRNA-1273, appeared to produce an immune response of the same magnitude as that observed in people convalescing from the virus, the company said.
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The clinical test was carried out by the National Institutes of Health, and the US government has invested a half-billion dollars in the development of Moderna's vaccine candidate.
Three groups of 15 patients received three different doses of the vaccine.
The complete results of the Phase 1 test, the first in the development of a vaccine and which in this case involved 45 participants, were not yet known.
The vaccine "was generally safe and well-tolerated," Moderna said in a statement.
"These interim phase 1 data, while early, demonstrate that vaccination with mRNA-1273 elicits an immune response of the magnitude caused by natural infection," Tal Zaks, Moderna's chief medical officer, said.
Phase 2 tests, with a larger number of subjects, should begin soon, according to Moderna. The Phase 3 trial, the last and most important to validate the efficacy of a vaccine, should begin in July.
Separate tests performed on mice showed that the vaccine prevented the virus from replicating in their lungs, according to the company.
Israel: 0 new COVID-19 cases for 1st time in months
Israel: 0 new coronavirus cases today for the 1st time in months. And just 3 cases in Tel Aviv & 1 case in Jerusalem going back 72 hours.
פורסם על ידי Daily Dose with Jeff Smith ב- יום שני, 18 במאי 2020
"The Moderna team continues to focus on moving as fast as safely possible to start our pivotal Phase 3 study in July," said Stephane Bancel, Moderna's CEO.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
