AstraZeneca, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies, has been in the limelight recently due to its COVID-19 vaccine. The company had reached an agreement with the UK government for the supply of its vaccine candidate, AZD1222.
The agreement between AstraZeneca and the UK government was announced in May 2020, under which the company pledged to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine to the UK. The agreement was significant for AstraZeneca as it was the first major deal for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. It also provided the company with financial support from the UK government for the development of its vaccine.
However, AstraZeneca faced several challenges in its clinical trials, which delayed the progress of its vaccine development. In September 2020, the company announced that it had paused its trials due to a volunteer falling ill with an undisclosed illness. Although the trials resumed a few days later, the incident raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Later, in November 2020, AstraZeneca announced that its vaccine candidate had shown an average efficacy rate of 70% in its clinical trials. However, the efficacy rate varied depending on the dosage administered. The vaccine showed 90% efficacy when administered as a half dose followed by a full dose, and 62% efficacy when given as two full doses.
Despite the lower efficacy rate reported, AstraZeneca`s vaccine candidate remained a significant contender in the global race for a COVID-19 vaccine. The company had already signed agreements with several governments worldwide for the supply of its vaccine. In December 2020, the UK became the first country to approve AstraZeneca`s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
The agreement between AstraZeneca and the UK government for the supply of its vaccine has been a crucial step in the fight against the pandemic. The vaccine`s approval and subsequent distribution have provided a ray of hope to millions worldwide. As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, the success of AstraZeneca`s vaccine candidate will undoubtedly play a significant role in ending the crisis.
