COVID-19: Clinical trials of Novavax are in advanced stage of completion, says Centre

COVID-19: Clinical trials of Novavax are in advanced stage of completion, says Centre

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 05:32 PM IST
article-image
Representative Image | AFP Photo

Sharing an update on another expected COVID-19 vaccine for India the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that vaccine 'Novavax' is showing promising results against coronavirus.

Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog, said that from the data available in the public domain it has been learnt that that Novavax is very safe and highly effective. Saying that it will be produced in India, VK Paul added that clinical trials are being conducted and are in advanced stage of completion.

"There will be some gap in production of Novavax vaccine for a while and I am also hoping that the US company would also start trials on children too," he added.

Vaccine maker Novavax on Monday said its shot was more than 90 percent effective against COVID-19 and also protected against variants in a large, late-stage study in the US and Mexico.

The jab "demonstrated 100% protection against moderate and severe disease, 90.4% efficacy overall," the company said in a statement, adding "the study enrolled 29,960 participants across 119 sites in the U.S. and Mexico to evaluate efficacy, safety and immunogenicity."

The Novavax vaccine, which is easy to store and transport, is expected to play an important role in boosting vaccine supplies in the developing world. Novavax vaccine proved 100 percent protection against moderate and severe diseases in PREVENT-19 phase 3 trials.

Novavax's study involved nearly 30,000 people ages 18 and up in the US and Mexico. Two-thirds received two doses of the vaccine, three weeks apart, and the rest got dummy shots.

There were 77 cases of COVID-19 — 14 in the group that got the vaccine and the rest were in volunteers who received dummy shots. None in the vaccine group had moderate or severe disease, compared to 14 in the placebo group.

The vaccine was similarly effective against several variants including the one first detected in the U.K. that's dominant in the US, and in high-risk populations including the elderly and people with other health problems.

Side effects were mostly mild — tenderness and pain at the injection site. There were no reports of unusual blood clots or heart problems, Erck said.

RECENT STORIES

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Unveils Campaign Strategy In UP, Books 19 Chartered Planes For Star...

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Unveils Campaign Strategy In UP, Books 19 Chartered Planes For Star...

Kolkata: BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh Once Again Makes Controversial Statement Against TMC After ECI Sends...

Kolkata: BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh Once Again Makes Controversial Statement Against TMC After ECI Sends...

Kolkata: TMC Leader Mahua Moitra Skips ED Summons, To Start Campaigning For Upcoming Lok Sabha...

Kolkata: TMC Leader Mahua Moitra Skips ED Summons, To Start Campaigning For Upcoming Lok Sabha...

ED Questions AAP Leaders In Goa Liquor Policy Scam Investigation; Kejriwal's Custody Extended

ED Questions AAP Leaders In Goa Liquor Policy Scam Investigation; Kejriwal's Custody Extended

Gujarat: NDPS Court Imposes 2 Lakh Fine On Sacked IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt In Drug Planting Case

Gujarat: NDPS Court Imposes 2 Lakh Fine On Sacked IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt In Drug Planting Case