Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pfizer Says Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective In Latest Trials
The Washington Post: Pfizer’s Coronavirus Vaccine Is More Than 90 Percent Effective In First Analysis, Company Reports
A front-runner coronavirus vaccine developed by drug giant Pfizer and German biotechnology firm BioNTech was more than 90 percent effective at protecting people compared with a placebo saline shot, according to an interim analysis by an independent data monitoring committee that met Sunday. The early look at the ongoing trial provides a decisive initial glimpse of the real-world performance of one of the four coronavirus vaccines in the last stages of testing in the United States. It is the strongest signal yet that the unprecedented quest to develop a vaccine that could help bring the pandemic to an end might succeed, breaking every scientific speed record. (Johnson, 11/9)
CNBC: Pfizer, BioNTech Say COVID Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective—‘Great Day For Science And Humanity’
The announcement comes as drugmakers and research centers scramble to deliver a safe and effective vaccine to help bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 1.25 million lives worldwide. Scientists are hoping for a coronavirus vaccine that is at least 75% effective, while White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci has said one that is 50% or 60% effective would be acceptable. (Meredith, 11/9)
AP: Pfizer Says Early Data Signals COVID-19 Vaccine Is Effective
Monday’s announcement doesn’t mean a vaccine is imminent: This interim analysis, from an independent data monitoring board, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. and five other countries. Pfizer Inc. did not provide any more details about those cases, and cautioned the initial protection rate might change by the time the study ends. Even revealing such early data is highly unusual. (Johnson and Neergaard, 11/9)
The New York Times: Pfizer’s Early Data Shows Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective
Pfizer plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization of the two-dose vaccine later this month, after it has collected the recommended two months of safety data. By the end of the year it will have manufactured enough doses to immunize 15 to 20 million people, company executives have said. (Thomas, Gelles and Zimmer, 11/9)
Bloomberg: Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine Prevents 90% Of Infections In Study
The findings are based on an interim analysis conducted after 94 participants contracted Covid-19. The trial will continue until 164 cases have occurred. If the data hold up and a key safety readout Pfizer expects in about a week also looks good, it could mean that the world has a vital new tool to control a pandemic that has killed more than 1.2 million people worldwide. (Langreth, Kresge and Griffin, 11/9)
