Novavax, an American vaccine development company headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, published positive efficacy data for its COVID-19 vaccine.
On January 28, the company published positive data from the UK phase 3 trial of its experimental coronavirus vaccine, stating that it is 89.3% effective in preventing COVID infection.
The trial was conducted during the period the new strain of the coronavirus was first detected in Kent and began to circulate widely. The trial found that the vaccine was effective against the new strain – the variant that is considered highly contagious.
The UK has so far secured 60 million doses of Novavax’s vaccine – thanks to the government’s Vaccines Taskforce.
If approved by the UK drug regulatory body – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – the vaccine will be delivered in the second half of this year.
Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said, “The results from the UK trial of Novavax’s vaccine look extremely promising, and I welcome the news that the company is planning to submit its data to the regulators.”
“The UK moved quickly to procure 60 million doses from Novavax and I’m pleased to confirm the bulk of the vaccine will be manufactured on Teesside and delivered during this year if approved for use,” he added. “From the scientists and researchers to the thousands of UK trial volunteers, I am enormously grateful to everyone who is playing their part in this truly national effort to defeat this virus once and for all.”
Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said, “This is positive news and, if approved by the medicines regulator, the Novavax vaccine will be a significant boost to our vaccination program and another weapon in our arsenal to beat this awful virus.”
“I’m proud the UK is at the forefront of another medical breakthrough and I want to thank the brilliant scientists and researchers, as well as the tens of thousands of selfless volunteers who took part in clinical trials,” Hancock added. “The NHS stands ready to roll this vaccine out as quickly as possible to those most at risk if it is authorized.”
Nadhim Zahawi, Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment, said, “Having taken part in Novavax’s vaccine trial myself, I am particularly thrilled to see such positive results. I want to thank the thousands of trial volunteers, without whom these results would not have been possible.”
“It will now be for the regulator to do its crucial work in assessing the efficacy and safety of this vaccine, but if approved it will be a further boost to our vaccination program,” Zahawi added.
The UK was the first nation in the world to approve and use Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines. So far, nearly 7.5 million people across the UK have had at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, according to www.gov.uk.
