AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
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South Africa has delayed the distribution of the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine after data suggested it “provides minimal protection” against mild disease from the South African variant.
The Swiss health authority Swissmedic rejected AstraZeneca’s rolling authorization application for its COVID-19 vaccine a few days ago, saying more data is needed “to obtain more information about safety, efficacy, and quality.”
It was a busy week for clinical trial updates. Here’s a look.
AstraZeneca reported that its Phase III KESTREL trial of Imfinzi (durvalumab) failed to meet the primary endpoint of improving overall survival (OS) compared to the EXTREME treatment regimen, which was chemotherapy plus cetuximab, a standard of care.
Although designed for two doses, primary analysis of AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford’s Phase III data for its COVID-19 vaccine found it to have 76% efficacy after the first dose.
Regulators removed samples and records from the plant, which are being examined by experts from Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain.
Police have sealed off the area, according to the report. Few details were available, but eye witnesses said a robot was investigating a suspicious package found at the plant.
Much of the attention on Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca for the last few months has been on their COVID-19 vaccine efforts.
Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson all have trials of their respective vaccines underway in various age-groups.
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