The manuscript published today in NEJM, 'Safety and Efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 Vaccine,' provides the final trial analysis, building on an
initial interim analysis conducted in January 2021, and the updated analysis
announced in March 2021, while additional data from the study was subsequently
shared in preprint server medRxiv in May 2021. Today's publication may be accessed
here.
"We continue to be very encouraged by data showing high levels of efficacy against even mild disease, and that NVX-CoV2373 offers strong cross-protection against both the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant and non-B.1.1.7 (non-Alpha) variant strains which are widely circulating," said Gregory M. Glenn, M.D., President of Research and Development, Novavax. "This publication also reinforces the reassuring safety and efficacy profile shown in studies of our vaccine to-date and underscores the potential for NVX-CoV2373 to play an important role in solving this ongoing global public health crisis."
The randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled study, led by researchers at St George's, University of London and St George's Hospital, London, enrolled more than 15,000 adults at trial sites across the United Kingdom. The research demonstrated that a two-dose regimen of Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine candidate conferred 96.4% protection against non-B.1.1.7 (non-Alpha) variant strains and nearly 90% protection against all strains in circulation at that time. It also demonstrated that initial vaccine side effects were mostly mild and transient, and that no imbalance was seen in more serious adverse events compared with the placebo arm. The study assessed efficacy during a period when the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant strain of the virus was emerging and circulating widely in the United Kingdom and is the same variant that is currently widespread in the United States.