The American pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced on Monday that its coronavirus vaccine is effective in 90% of cases . Pfizer laboratories reached this conclusion by observing the results of the first phase 3 trial, prior to requesting its approval and permits to go to market.
The specialists warned that patients achieve 90% protection against SARS-CoV-2 seven days after having the second dose of the vaccine and 28 days after the first application. The report is an encouraging part for all humanity. The data was confirmed by the pharmaceutical company and the BioNTech company.
UPDATE: We are proud to announce, along with @BioNTech_Group, that our mRNA-based #vaccine candidate has, at an interim analysis, demonstrated initial evidence of efficacy against #COVID19 in participants without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) November 9, 2020
“We are proud to announce, together with BioNTech, that our candidate mRNA-based vaccine demonstrated, in an interim analysis, initial evidence of efficacy against COVID-19 in participants with no prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.” Pfizer communicated through its social networks.
The announcement puts Pfizer at the forefront of the global race among pharmaceutical companies to come first to have a COVID-19 vaccine on the market. The number of deaths from coronavirus stands at 1.2 million people worldwide.
A word from the president of Pfizer
Albert Bourla, CEO and President of Pfizer, wrote a letter to explain to people what criteria the laboratory must meet in order to ensure an efficient and safe vaccine on the market.
Today is a great day for both science and humanity, as the first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides compelling evidence of our vaccine’s ability to help prevent COVID-19. https://t.co/UjcoSD75tT
— Albert Bourla (@AlbertBourla) November 9, 2020
“Transparency is important,” reads the lengthy Bourla statement that Pfizer posted on its official site. The letter can be read here .
The New York Times reported that the results of Pfizer’s first Phase 3 trial were analyzed by a panel outside the company. This audit did not report failures of any kind.
When does the Pfizer vaccine come out?
Pharmaceutical Pfizer described this announcement as “a first, but critical, step” on the road to an effective and safe vaccine against COVID-19.
Based on these results, the pharmaceutical company plans to request an emergency authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the release of the vaccine by the end of November. It is estimated that as of December 31, Pfizer will be in a position to manufacture sufficient doses to immunize between 15 and 20 million people .
Currently, 11 vaccines are in phase 3. Pfizer’s announcement is good news for another US drugmaker like Moderna , which uses similar technology to its competitor in vaccine development.
At the end of October, Moderna reached an encouraging goal after securing the 30,000 volunteers required to start phase 3.
Pfizer took off from the government
Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s vice president and head of vaccine research and development, said in an interview that the drugmaker ” did not take any money from the government to help pay for research and development.”
The outgoing president of the United States, Donald Trump, had promised that the vaccines developed in his country would be ready by November 3, before the elections that proclaimed the Democratic candidate Joe Biden the winner.
As Pence claims credit, Pfizer says it did NOT join in the administration's partnership.
Pfizer head of vaccine development Dr. Kathrin Jansen told the NY Times: “We were never part of the Warp Speed … We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone.” https://t.co/GScL3vodx9
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) November 9, 2020
Trump had promised to financially assist the pharmaceutical companies that had launched into the manufacture of the vaccine. What became known as Operation Warp Speed did not involve Pfizer. “We were never part of Warp Speed, “ said Kathrin Jansen.