While fears of the surge in infections from Covid-19 are growing all over the world, good news is coming on another front, that of vaccines. The first data arrived on the coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, whose production will be handled by Irbm of Pomezia, appear to be promising. It reveals the Financial Times that the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial, currently underway, would show a strong immune response in the elderlythe age group most at risk.
The London newspaper, which cites two people informed about the facts as sources, informs that the vaccine would be able to stimulate the production of protective antibodies and T cells in older age groups, with low levels of adverse reactions. The immune response of the elderly would be similar to that already seen in adults aged 18 to 55 and described in July.
Il Financial TimeHowever, he warns: the tests seem promising, but it will still take a few weeks to understand if the vaccine is really safe and effective.
To date, the Astrazeneca-Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced ones. Data on safety and efficacy could arrive later this year. If all goes well, the first doses could be available as early as early 2021.
"Thanks to the economic and organizational strength of the project leader, the multinational AstraZeneca, we started producing the vaccine against Covid-19 months ago - he explains Piero Di Lorenzo, president of Irbm of Pomezia, guest of 'Omnibus' on La7 -. Minister Speranza was active and effective in joining the leading group of the EU to book vaccines. Hopefully, it's reasonable to expect that the first doses of the vaccine, 2-3 million, will arrive in Italy by the end of the year. The contract between AstraZeneca and the EU provides for the delivery of 300 million doses by June 2021. About ten million doses will arrive in Italy every month. By June 2021, all those who want to get vaccinated in Italy will be able to do so ".
"Thanks to the economic and organizational strength of the project leader, the multinational AstraZeneca, we started producing the vaccine" against Covid-19 "for months already - explains Piero Di Lorenzo, president of Irbm in Pomezia, the center that he developed together at the University of Oxford the candidate vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, guest of 'Omnibus' on La7 – Minister Speranza was active and effective in joining the leading group of the EU to book vaccines. If all goes well, it is reasonable to expect the first doses of the vaccine, 2-3 million, to arrive in Italy by the end of the year. The contract between AstraZeneca and the EU provides for the delivery of 300 million doses by June 2021. About ten million doses will arrive in Italy every month. By June 2021, everyone who wants to get vaccinated in Italy will be able to do so".
“Not to spread easy optimism, but to respond to a just hunger for information: it is absolutely credible that the experimentation of the AstraZeneca-Oxford project could reach its conclusion with the phase III trials at the end of November-mid December” added Di Lorenzo. “It is reasonable to think that validation may take place by the end of the year. At the end of the trial, the documentation is given to regulatory agencies which normally take 6-12 months to complete the process. In this situation, which is not normal given millions of sick and dead people, I am sure that the agencies will do their utmost to eliminate all bureaucratic times and to speed up the process without in the least canceling rules relating to safety".
