Oxford, AstraZeneca Vaccine Shows Promising Immune Response in Older Adults -- Update
October 26 2020 - 08:32AM
Dow Jones News
By Jenny Strasburg
LONDON -- A Covid-19 vaccine being developed by the University
of Oxford and AstraZeneca PLC showed a promising immune response
and low levels of adverse reactions in the elderly and older
adults, according to an interim analysis that the drugmaker said
were encouraging.
The vaccine, now in late-stage human trials aimed at showing its
efficacy and safety, is a front-runner in the global sprint for a
shot to protect lives and jump-start economies hobbled by the
pandemic. Trials in the U.K. could produce results before year-end,
fueling hopes among scientists and government leaders that a
vaccine might be available for high-risk groups here by early
2021.
The results showed positive outcomes for adults over 56,
including the especially higher-risk age group of those 70 and
older, and were based on analysis of previously conducted interim
safety and immune-response data, AstraZeneca and Oxford said
Monday.
The elderly generally have been prone to more-severe Covid-19
symptoms than younger people. Thus, researchers have been looking
for evidence that a vaccine will be able to specifically help
protect them.
"It is encouraging to see immunogenicity responses were similar
between older and younger adults," an AstraZeneca spokeswoman
said.
"This marks a key milestone and reassures us that the vaccine is
safe for use and induces strong immune responses in both parts of
the immune system in all adult groups," an Oxford spokesman said
Monday.
The data showed a lower "reactogenecity" to the vaccine among
older adults. That refers to the level of expected side effects,
including potential fever, swelling at the site of the injection
and body aches. Such reactions were lower in adults 56 and older
than in younger adults, according to the interim analysis. The
reactions also lessened after the second of a two-dose application,
AstraZeneca said.
Details of the interim analysis have been submitted to a
peer-reviewed journal, Oxford and AstraZeneca said. The timing of
an expected report isn't clear, but Oxford said it hopes the
publication will be in the coming weeks.
Oxford is the sponsor of the vaccine trials in the U.K., while
AstraZeneca is overseeing U.S. late-stage trials that were on pause
for most of September and October. The company said Friday that the
U.S. trials could resume after the Food and Drug Administration
wrapped up an examination of a possible neurological side effect
that emerged in two people in studies testing the vaccine.
Write to Jenny Strasburg at jenny.strasburg@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 26, 2020 08:17 ET (12:17 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2020 to Jan 2021
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2020 to Jan 2021