Mubasher: The mRNA-based vaccine candidate of Pfizer and BioNTech has shown over 90% efficacy in preventing coronavirus (COVID-19) in participants without evidence of prior infection, based on the first interim efficacy analysis.

Conducted on 8 November 2020, the analysis evaluated 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in trial participants, according to a press release on Monday.

The US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech will continue their clinical trials to final analysis at 164 confirmed cases in order to collect further data. 

On 27 July, the phase 3 clinical trial of BNT162b2 began with 43,538 participants enrolled to date, 38,955 of whom have received a second dose of the vaccine candidate as of 8 November 2020.

Nearly 42% of the trial’s global participants had racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The companies expect to supply globally up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and manufacture up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. 

Pfizer Chairman and CEO, Albert Bourla, said: "Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19."

The Co-founder and CEO of BioNTech, Ugur Sahin, commented: "The first interim analysis of our global Phase 3 study provides evidence that a vaccine may effectively prevent COVID-19. This is a victory for innovation, science, and a global collaborative effort."

It is noteworthy to mention that in late July, the US government agreed with Pfizer and BioNTech to produce 100 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine in exchange for $1.95 billion if the vaccine proves effective in humans.