COVID-19 vaccine trial blueprints revealed by Moderna, Pfizer amid calls for transparency

One of leading biotech companies in race for developing COVID-19 vaccine, US’ Moderna reportedly became first firm to publish complete blueprints of its clinical trials amid growing calls for transparency followed by Pfizer. Moderna is one of nine companies with ir COVID-19 vaccine candidate in late sts of clinical trials while vel coronavirus outbreak has continued to tighten its grip across globe. Ar US-based pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer which is also carrying out Phase 3 trials in America reportedly conformed to similar move shortly after, leading to mounting pressure on remaining companies to do same. 

While race for acquiring a safe and efficient vaccine to COVID-19 has grown more intense and political, many leading companies have promoted ir own candidates, some of which have even reached Phase 3 or final st before approval of vaccine. final st of clinical trials involves testing of doses on thousands of participants to and monitor results. Moreover, with US Elections 2020 just around corner, US President Donald Trump has been touting a quince COVID-19 vaccine to dismiss overshadowing criticism on his handling of pandemic and promote his reelection. 

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Moderna: Unlikely for vaccine to be out by Oct

Moderna, only company revealing potential timetable within which a successful COVID-19 vaccine could be developed, has reportedly said that it would be before 2020 ends. But, Trump has reportedly recently reiterated that re could be a vaccine as early as in four weeks time, that is, before vember presidential elections. However, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC on September 17 that October is possible but unlikely. 

Both Moderna and Pfizer have rolled out detailed blueprints of comprehensive road map for clinical trials of ir vaccine candidates along with information of how participants are being tested and monitored. According to international media reports, plans have also laid out conditions under which problems would halt trial at an early st and how collected data is being incorporated to determine if person receiving potential vaccine is safe from COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, as global COVID-19 cases surpass 30 million, race for acquiring potential doses of vaccine has grown more intense. With calculations that “expose a broken system”, a recent report by an international anti-poverty nprofit Oxfam revealed on September 17 that rich nations including United States, UK and Japan that represent only 13 per cent of world’s population have already acquired 51 per cent of promised doses of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. 

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