Spain approves Phase 3 clinical trials of Janssen's COVID-19 vaccine; trial at 9 hospitals

Spanish ncy of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) on Wednesday has authorized phase-3 clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen, Spanish Health Ministry informed.  This will be first COVID-19 vaccine that will be allowed to enter phase 3 trials in Spain.

Trials will be conducted in nine hospitals in Spain

trials will be carried out in Belgium, France, Colombia Germany, Philippines, United Kingdom, US, and South Africa to study safety of vaccine. Furrmore, trials will be conducted in nine hospitals in Spain that will begin to recruit eligible volunteers, which include both people without any chronic diseases and people with concurrent illnesses. Twenty percent of participants will be under 40 years old and 30 percent will be over 60 years old, ministry informed.

pharmaceutical company Janssen is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and is developing a recombinant vaccine (Ad26.COV2-S) against coronavirus. company had anunced start of phase 3 of vaccine's trials in late September.

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Pfizer's COVID Vaccine Edges Past Moderna's Efficacy Rate

Days after reporting over 90 percent efficacy, Pfizer and BioNTech on Wednesday anunced that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate - BNT162b2 - has met all of primary efficacy endpoints. Concluding from analysis, biotech firm stated that its vaccine candidate has shown an efficacy rate of 95 percent in participants with and without prior COVID infection. However, efficacy reduced by a percent in adults over of 65 years. analysis by Pfizer and BioNTech is based on 170 participants. 

companies have also anunced that it has achieved safety milestone required by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Based on safety and efficacy data collected, firms intend to submit a request within days to FDA for a EUA. anuncement comes just two days after Moderna reported that its vaccine candidate had shown nearly 95% efficacy rate. 

READ | Moderna CEO warns European countries of slow delivery in COVID-19 vaccine

Meanwhile, Moderna on Monday reported that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate has proven to be 94.5 percent effective. biotechlogy company has informed that it intends to submit COVID-19 vaccine candidate for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) with United States' Food & Drug Administration (FDA). analysis released by Moderna which has reported 94.5 percent efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine was based on results of more than 30,000 participants in US.

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(With ANI inputs)