CLINICAL trials of one of the most complex investigational Covid-19 vaccines, which is progressing through pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, were “suspended” on September 8 after a volunteer developed a disease inexplicable.
As billions of people around the world continue to suffer the consequences of the pandemic and the global death toll approaches 900,000, a global race for a vaccine is underway, with nine companies already in phase 3 of the trials. phase 3.
To date, international infections number more than 27 million and more than 890,000 people have died from the disease.
Russia has already approved a vaccine, and studies published in the medical journal The Lancet last week indicated that affected patients in early tests had developed antibodies “any serious adverse event. ” But the scientists cautioned that the trials were too small.
A spokesperson for the AstraZeneca vaccine said Tuesday that “we have voluntarily suspended vaccination to allow for review of protection knowledge through an independent committee.
“This is a regimen action that occurs whenever there is potentially unexplained illness in any of the trials, while it is under investigation, to ensure that we maintain the integrity of the trials. “
The company said that in the giant trials, diseases occur by possibility, but they want to be tested independently.
AstraZeneca did not provide additional details, but medical news Stat News, which first reported on the volunteer’s illness, cited a source as a “serious adverse reaction to the vaccine. “
“While this is clearly not good news, don’t forget that careful testing for side effects is a component of large-scale trials and is a must to ensure confidence in any vaccine. This will mean that the effects will be delayed, ”Harvard epidemiology expert Bill Hanage wrote on Twitter.
According to Stat News, the volunteer in poor health on the vaccine will likely participate in a phase 2/3 trial in the UK.
Meanwhile, China showed its local vaccines for the first time at a Beijing industry showcase this week, and hopes the vaccine will be approved for use until the end of the year.
Vaccines are among the few that have entered 3 trials.
China celebrates, Europe suffers
Across Europe, considerations are developing about a resurgence of the virus, with France tightening restrictions, cases in Britain expanding and resuming in the region.
In China, however, the virus was still banned thanks to closures and restrictions earlier in the year, prompting officials to tout the country as a coronavirus good-fortune story.
Chinese leaders held a triumphal rite to celebrate the fight against coronavirus on September 8, and President Xi Jinping said that China had passed “a historic and ordinary test” in an awards ceremony for medical professionals.
The nation’s propaganda device to capture the narrative surrounding the pandemic, reformulating the episode as an example of the agility and organization of the communist leadership.
True potential
The economic fallout of the virus continues to wreak havoc on economies around the world as governments desperately seek to get back to normal.
India continued to reopen despite surpassing Brazil on September 7 as the world’s peak inflamed country, with more than 4. 2 million cases.
Subway trains resumed operations this week and said the main tourist attraction, the Taj Mahal, will reopen on September 21.
South Africa said its economy contracted more than a part in the current quarter as the pandemic wreaked havoc in Africa’s most industrialized state.
Latin America and the Caribbean have exceeded 300,000 deaths from the virus. Argentina’s workload has exceeded half a million, while in Peru, which has the world’s capita coronavirus death rate, Covid-19-related deaths have exceeded 30,000.
Berlusconi’s “favorable” signs
European countries were grappling with the high-level and political fallout from the September 8 pandemic.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme tested for the disease, prompting French Prime Minister Jean Castex to run a test, authorities said, after the couple shared the same car to keep up. of the cycling event.
The French soccer team was forced to enter the pitch against Croatia on September 8 without star forward Kylian Mbappé after testing positive.
The Roland Garros tennis tournament was hit hard after world number one and protective champion Ashleigh Barty announced that she would be participating.
And in politics, one of Europe’s top leading figures in recent times, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is still in hospital from the virus.
His doctor, however, optimistic.
“All the parameters monitored Array . . . are reassuring,” said Alberto Zangrillo, adding that Berlusconi’s fitness “is constantly improving. ” – AFP
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