Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates Up to 90% Efficacy in Phase III Trial with Optimized Dosing Regimen
AstraZeneca
Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford (commonly referred to as "Oxford") is a public research university located in Oxford, England. Operating under a collegiate federal system, it is collectively known with the University of Cambridge as "Oxbridge." Together with the University of Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, it forms the "G5 Super Elite Universities."While the exact founding date of the University of Oxford is lost to history, archival records clearly indicate that teaching commenced as early as 1096. The university experienced rapid development after receiving substantial support from the English royal family in 1167. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest surviving higher education institution globally. The University of Oxford holds prestigious academic standing and extensive influence in fields such as mathematics, physics, medicine, law, and business, and is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading higher education institutions. In the 2017–18 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Oxford ranked first worldwide; in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), it ranked seventh globally.On December 18, 2018, the "2018 World Brand 500" list, compiled by the World Brand Lab, was released, with the University of Oxford ranked 99th.
London, Nov. 23 (CNS) – The “Oxford Vaccine,” jointly developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, announced its Phase III clinical trial results on the 23rd: the vaccine can achieve an efficacy rate of up to 90% when adjusted to the appropriate dosage.
Trial results showed that when two full doses were administered within one month, the efficacy rate was 62%; whereas with a regimen consisting of a first half-dose followed by a second full dose, the efficacy rate reached 90%. The combined efficacy rate for these two dosing regimens was 70.4%. The reasons for the differing outcomes between the two methods remain unclear; researchers stated, “This may be attributable to the booster effect of the vaccine.” More than 20,000 volunteers participated in the large-scale clinical trial of this vaccine, with half enrolled in the United Kingdom and the remainder in Brazil. Among vaccinated participants, no hospitalizations or deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported.
Professor Andrew Pollard, the lead researcher of the Oxford vaccine development, stated, “We are very satisfied with these results.” The first injection at half dosage already elicited an effective immune response. “If this vaccination approach is adopted, it means that the same production volume can vaccinate more people.” Trial data from this prime-boost regimen with varying doses demonstrated that it “can also reduce asymptomatic infections,” and “we may be able to truly and effectively halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.” Professor Sarah Gilbert, the designer of the Oxford vaccine, said, “The trial results announced today bring us one step closer to our goal of ending the global COVID-19 pandemic through vaccination.”
According to reports, the Oxford vaccine was developed using adenovirus vector technology and can be stored in standard household refrigerators, making it easier to store and distribute to every corner of the world. Professor Pollard stated that this is an extremely convenient “ubiquitous” vaccine, adding, “This is an incredibly exciting moment for human health.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted on the day, “The Oxford vaccine has proven to be so effective and successful in trials, which is a surprising and uplifting piece of news.” Professor Azra Ghani, an expert in infectious disease epidemiology at Imperial College London, stated, “The Oxford vaccine can be transported and distributed worldwide using existing delivery systems, which will have a truly significant global impact.”
The UK government has secured 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine, sufficient to vaccinate 50 million people. Currently, the UK government is preparing to launch an unprecedented large-scale vaccination immunization program. Elderly residents and staff in nursing homes will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by healthcare workers and individuals aged 85 and older. Subsequently, age restrictions will be gradually relaxed, with the aim of completing vaccination for all individuals aged 18 and above by April next year. (End)