US biotech firm, Moderna Inc has announced the development of a vaccine that has proven to be 94.5% effective at protecting people from COVID-19, according to provisional results.
Produced in collaboration with the US government’s “Operation Warp Speed”, the vaccine has been shown to last for up to 30 days in household fridges and at room temperature for up to 12 hours.
It also remains stable at -20C, equal to most household or medical freezers, for up to six months.
This suggests it can be stored and transported much more easily than a Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which was announced to be 90% effective at protecting people from coronavirus last week.
“This is a pivotal moment in the development of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate,” said Moderna’s CEO Stephane Bancel in a statement. “This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent COVID-19 disease, including severe disease.”
Moderna’s MD, Dr Stephen Hoge, added that he “grinned ear to ear” when learning about the potential efficacy of the vaccine.
“When we got the news from the data and safety monitoring board, I’ll admit I broke character and grinned ear to ear for a minute.
“Because I didn’t expect, I don’t think any of us really hoped, that the vaccine would be 94% effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, that was really a stunning realisation.”
He said combined with data suggesting it can stop severe coronavirus, it means “that the vaccine really is a terrific tool for stopping the pandemic and hopefully stopping the worst of the disease that people are facing.”
“When you combine it with the news of last week of Pfizer’s vaccine, you’ve got now two vaccines that are over 90% effective.
“It really means I think we have the tools necessary to finally beat this virus back and I think that’s probably the best news of the day for all of us, is that there really are now solutions in our hands and we need to deliver them to the people who can use them.”
The results of both trials place Moderna and Pfizer on track to seek authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks for emergency use of their vaccines. Both vaccines require people to get two shots, several weeks apart.
Upon announcement of the vaccine, US President Donald Trump tweeted, “Another Vaccine just announced. This time by Moderna, 95% effective.
“For those great “historians”, please remember that these great discoveries, which will end the China Plague, all took place on my watch!”
US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azhar added, “This news is another stunning result of President Trump’s leadership and his unwavering support for #OperationWarpSpeed, an incredible tribute to American scientists and innovators, and one more reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
President-elect Joe Biden on the other hand urged Americans to cautiously hopeful.
He tweeted, “Today’s news of a second vaccine is further reason to feel hopeful. What was true with the first vaccine remains true with the second: we are still months away.
“Until then, Americans need to continue to practice social-distancing and mask-wearing to get the virus under control.”
Moderna expects to have about 20 million doses, earmarked for the US by the end of 2020. Pfizer and BioNTech expect to have about 50 million doses globally by year’s end.
