Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
AstraZeneca Trials Show Vaccine Is 79% Effective Against Symptomatic Covid
Stat: AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 Vaccine Shows Better-Than-Expected Efficacy
AstraZeneca said Monday that the Covid-19 vaccine it developed with the University of Oxford reduced both mild and serious forms of the disease, paving the way for a likely U.S. authorization of the vaccine. Doctors, regulators, and government officials the world over are likely to breathe a sigh of relief at the results, which are better than expected and appear materially higher than those in previous studies. (Herper, 3/22)
CNN: AstraZeneca Vaccine Is 79% Effective Against Symptomatic Covid-19, Company Says
AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine showed 79% efficacy against symptomatic disease and 100% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalization in a new, US-based clinical trial, the company said Monday. The findings from the new Phase 3 trial, which included more than 32,000 participants, may boost confidence in the vaccine, which was originally developed by the University of Oxford. (Kennedy, 3/22)
NPR: AstraZeneca Vaccine Is Effective Against COVID-19, Phase III Study Says
AstraZeneca's vaccine can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (2-8 degrees Celsius or 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least six months. The company said it can also be administered without the need for preparation within existing healthcare settings. (Diaz, 3/22)
Also —
Bloomberg: Vaccine Battle Heats Up With EU Ready To Halt U.K. Shipments
The European Union is ready to start withholding Covid-19 shots from the U.K., risking a sharp deterioration in relations with London in a bid to turn around its lackluster vaccination campaign. The EU will likely reject authorizations to export AstraZeneca Plc’s coronavirus vaccines and their ingredients to the U.K. until the drugmaker fulfills its delivery obligations to the 27-nation bloc, according to a senior EU official. (Chrysoloras, Ring and Mayes, 3/21)
Bloomberg: AstraZeneca R&D Oncology Chief José Baselga Dies At 61
José Baselga, a renowned cancer doctor who led AstraZeneca Plc’s oncology research-and-development arm, has died. A fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research, Baselga died of Creuzfeldt-Jacob Disease, a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder, according to a Spanish news report. He was 61. (Gopal, 3/21)
