The vaccine study that is being conducted by global pharma giant AstraZeneca in collaboration with a research team at Oxford University has shown great promise in its very first human trials.
Indian Express reported that the vaccine increased levels of both protective neutralizing antibodies and immune T-cells that target the virus, according to the study organizers. The results were published Monday in The Lancet medical journal. “We are seeing very good immune responses, not just on neutralizing antibodies but of T-cells as well,” said Adrian Hill, head of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, in an interview. “We’re stimulating both arms of the immune system”, he added.
Following this, AstraZeneca’s shares shot up by 10% after this announcement, but gave up much of gain to trade 0.6% higher as researchers cautioned that the results were preliminary.
AstraZeneca has signed a deal with the US as well as several countries in the EU to deliver several million doses by the end of this year. The UK has also signed a deal, though it is expected to receive its shipment much later than its counterparts. It secured deals with BioNTech, Pfizer and Valneva SE following this. There are over 160 teams all over the world who are currently researching a corona-virus vaccine.