Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: All about vaccine candidate with over 90% efficacy

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine candidate has shown more than 90 per cent efficacy in preventing coronavirus and w two companies are working to distribute experimental drug. Being hailed as major victory in fight against pandemic, American drugmaker Pfizer Inc in collaboration with Germany’s BioNTech Inc has caused a stir across world. While it gave much-needed optimistic boost to global research for a COVID-19 vaccine especially when most nations are gripped with second wave, company’s vember 9 has also surged stock markets to reportedly new records. 

Here’s everything about Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

• What was Pfizer’s anuncement?

While vel coronavirus infections recently passed grim milestone of 50 million cases, American pharmaceutical company Pfizer said on vember 9 that interim analysis of its vaccine produced along with German partner BioNTech group has shown promising results, meaning it is on track to file an emergency use application with American regulators as early as later this month. 

However, vember 9 anuncement does t imply that mRNA-based vaccine called BNT162b2, is imminent. results are based on interim analysis which considered at least 94 infections in a study that h enrolled at least 44,000 people in six nations including United States with fewer than nine of m who caught disease were also given dose.

In a bid to confirm similar level of efficacy, Pfizer has also said that it would continue its trial until re are 164 COVID-19 cases among volunteers. It is also same number that US Food and Drug ministration (FDA) has agreed as eugh to determine how efficient vaccine is. data is yet to be reviewed by peers and company has assured to publish it once it is completed. 

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• How does COVID-19 vaccine work?

Tritionally, a vaccine comprises of a de or weakened part of pathogen that causes disease. amount is such, that it won’t make recipient sick but eugh for body to identify virus or bacteria as a foreign element which is followed by generation of an immune response. refore, when same individual is infected by pathogen he or she is vaccinated, immune response will be all set.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is mRNA-based. It means that individual is t being injected with parts of virus but inste, recipient will be ministered with part of genetic code of coronavirus. This furr tricks body into producing some of viral proteins on it is own so that immune system detects se proteins and generate a defensive response to m.

• What’s next?

American pharmaceutical company Pfizer w expects to get two months of safety follow-up data, which is a key metric required by US regulators before an emergency authorisation is granted. data is expected to be available in third week in vember. If findings raise problems, Pfizer could apply for authorisation in US this very month. ditionally, regulators are also working with BioNTech to “furr accelerate process”.  Pfizer and BioNTech have said that so far, trial’s data monitoring committee has identified serious safety concerns.

• Who have alrey lined up as vaccine’s buyers?

As per reports, both drugmakers involved in manufacture of mRNA-based vaccine have signed a $1.95 billion contract with US government to deliver 100 million vaccine doses. Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech have also reached similar supply agreements with European Union (EU), UK, Cana and Japan.

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