AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine looks like it’s headed for an additional global trial as the drugmaker tries to clear up uncertainty and confusion surrounding favorable results in its current study. Clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration may take longer because the regulator is unlikely to approve the vaccine on the basis of studies conducted elsewhere, especially given the questions over the results, Mr Soriot said. Astra shares fell 0.8 per cent by 8.57am in London trading on Friday, bringing the decline this week to about 8% amid questions about the trial results. He also said the half-dose was given to some people because of an error in the quantity of vaccine put into some vials. “I won’t tell you we expected the efficacy to be higher,” said Mr Soriot.

Source: The Irish Times November 27, 2020 09:45 UTC