Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that their Covid-19 vaccine candidate, BNT162b2, was found to be effective against Covid-19 in a Phase III study of patients with no evidence of prior infection with SARS-CoV-2.
This announcement is based on the first interim analysis of the Phase III trial by the data monitoring committee (DMC). The analysis found that the candidate was more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 seven days after the second vaccine dose.
The DMC also did not report any safety concerns linked with candidate, and recommended that the trial continued so safety and efficacy data can be collected.
Pfizer CEO and chairman Dr Albert Bourla stated: “Today is a great day for science and humanity.
“The first set of results from our Phase III Covid-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent Covid-19.
“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.
“With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.”
