Another Successful Vaccine.
The early results of Oxford University and AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine trial showed “robust” immune system responses, according to the pharmaceutical firm.
“COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222 showed robust immune responses in all participants in phase I/II trial,” said AstraZeneca in an emailed statement.
Some 1,077 people took part in the study of AZD1222, which is also known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. About half of the participants received the experimental vaccine.
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In the research, scientists said that they found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55. Dr. Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, said neutralizing antibodies were produced by the vaccine candidate.
In addition, the vaccine also causes a reaction in the body's T-cells, which help to fight off the coronavirus.
“We are seeing good immune response in almost everybody,” said Dr. Hill. “What this vaccine does particularly well is trigger both arms of the immune system.”
Reported side effects from the trial include feeling tired, headaches, muscle aches, chills and fever. No serious side effects were noted.
Further evaluation of the vaccine is being undertaken. “ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 showed an acceptable safety profile, and homologous boosting increased antibody responses,” the researchers wrote, in the study. “These results, together with the induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses, support largescale evaluation of this candidate vaccine in an ongoing phase 3 program.”
The results of the research are published in The Lancet medical journal.