A second COVID-19 vaccine candidate is showing promising results south of the border.
Moderna said Monday that preliminary data from its ongoing study suggests the company’s vaccine is 94.5 per cent effective.
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel described the news as a “pivotal moment” in the development of their vaccine candidate.
“Since early January, we have chased this virus with the intent to protect as many people around the world as possible,” said Bancel in a news release. “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,”
The news comes a week after Pfizer announced its vaccine candidate is more than 90 per cent effective in preventing the virus.
A review of the adverse side effects found they were generally “mild or moderate in severity” and short-lived. They included injection site pain, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, headache and pain.
Moderna will apply for FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States in the coming weeks and plans to submit authorization applications to global regulatory agencies.
