The US company Biotech Moderna announced: "Positive test on volunteers, they have developed antibodies"
According to the announcement by the US biotech company Moderna, the first human safety tests of its vaccine, which it is developing in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases led by virologist Anthony Fauci, is giving promising results compared to the roadmap expected.
According to a report released by the company, the vaccine, administered at low and medium doses to eight patients, triggered blood levels of specific antibodies similar or higher than those found in the recovered patients. In addition, a vaccine being tested has so far shown that it is safe and well tolerated. Only one patient reported a redness at the injection site and three others had some systemic symptoms which, however, were treated with more important doses.
The provisional data announced are the results of clinical trials which aim to demonstrate the safety of the experimental vaccine and to identify the right dose. At the moment, no details have been given about the size or duration of the large study that will start in July, which will be crucial in determining whether the vaccine is safe and effective.
"We are very, very happy because the vaccine was generally safe first," said Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna. But to be really "exciting - he added - was the fact of finding antibodies in sufficient quantities" to prevent disease in volunteers. Animal and human data released so far by society have not yet been published.