AstraZeneca Pauses Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Due to Possible Adverse Reaction in Volunteer
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.
British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced on the 8th local time that it would suspend an ongoing vaccine trial after a volunteer participating in the trial of the COVID-19 vaccine developed jointly with the University of Oxford fell ill. This marks the first COVID-19 candidate vaccine to enter Phase III clinical trials to announce a suspension.
According to CNN, AstraZeneca has decided to suspend the trial in accordance with standard operating procedures after a volunteer participating in the vaccine trial developed an illness. In a statement released by the company, it said, “As part of our ongoing global randomized controlled trials of the Oxford University vaccine, our standard review process triggered a pause in vaccination activities to allow for a review of safety data.”
According to the Associated Press, the health news website STAT reported that the volunteer who experienced a possible side effect was from the United Kingdom, a claim corroborated by BBC News. AstraZeneca did not disclose specific details, referring to the potential adverse event only as “an unexplained illness.” CNN reported that halting the trial is a standard precautionary measure in vaccine studies, intended to prevent serious harm to volunteers.
A company spokesperson confirmed that the suspended trials involved countries such as the United States. Currently, the vaccine is undergoing Phase III trials in the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, and South Africa.
Original Title: AstraZeneca: Possible Side Effects Observed in Oxford Vaccine Trial Volunteers, Trial Suspended