Oxford scientists earlier this month published interim findings from the vaccines clinical trials in The Lancet. Forthcoming final results from those trials are not expected to be significantly different from the interim data, as is typical in clinical research.
AstraZenecas U.S. trial had enrolled more than 27,000 participants as of last week, just short of its goal of 30,000. The trial could have results and, if positive, lead to an emergency authorization in the United States in February or March, Moncef Slaoui, the head of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. federal effort to fast-track coronavirus vaccines, said in a news conference last week.
AstraZeneca executives have publicly floated several ideas for gathering additional data on the more promising dosing regimen. In November, they said they were considering adding an arm to the continuing U.S. trial or starting a fresh global trial. But so far, neither of those proposals has come to fruition.
Health officials are hoping to soon vaccinate a million people per week as the country’s hospitals are overwhelmed by cases of a new, more contagious variant of the virus.
