Pfizer Launches U.S. Human Trial Of Coronavirus Vaccine

TOPLINE

Coronavirus vaccines developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech are being tested on healthy young adults in the U.S. in a flexible, simultaneous trial of multiple candidates that researchers hope will shorten the development time for a COVID-19 vaccine.

KEY FACTS

Big number

Millions to hundreds of millions. Pfizer says that if it finds a vaccine candidate, it could produce millions of doses by the end of 2020, and could scale production to hundreds of millions by next year.

Crucial quote

“With our unique and robust clinical study program underway, starting in Europe and now the U.S., we look forward to advancing quickly and collaboratively with our partners at BioNTech and regulatory authorities to bring a safe and efficacious vaccine to the patients who need it most,” said Pfizer chairman and chief executive Albert Bourla in a statement. 

Key background

Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccines are being developed with genetic material known as messenger RNA, or mRNA. The material contains instructions for cells to make proteins, according to the New York Times, which means the vaccine potentially could tell a person’s cells to make a specific coronavirus protein without them getting sick. No mRNA vaccine, however, has been approved for the prevention of infectious disease. Moderna, Inovio and CanSino are among other pharmaceutical companies working on similar vaccines, the Times reported, and some have also gone into human trials. Typical vaccine production can take 10 to 15 years, and health experts have said a coronavirus vaccine was⁠—at minimum⁠—12 to 18 months away. At least 70 coronavirus vaccines are in development, the World Health Organization said April 14.

Further reading

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer begins testing coronavirus vaccine in people (Washington Post)

Pfizer Begins Human Trials of Possible Coronavirus Vaccine (New York Times)

When Will There Be A Vaccine For The New Coronavirus? Everything You Need To Know (Forbes)

Handicapping The Most Promising Of 267 Potential Coronavirus Cures (Forbes)

Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus