CEPI welcomes Moderna announcement of positive interim data from Phase III trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate

Statement from CEO of CEPI, Dr. Richard Hatchett, following the announcement from Moderna indicating 94.5% effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, in the first interim analysis of their Phase 3 clinical study. CEPI provided early catalytic investment in Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine programme.

"The Moderna results are as good as we could have hoped for and really terrifically encouraging.

"Today's announcement provides further confirmation that spike-directed vaccines can provide a strong protective immune response.

"Moderna has also released information which suggests that the vaccine may protect against more severe disease (although they don't address the statistical significance of this finding), and the reported side effects appear to be manageable. The fact that the vaccine shows stability when stored in a normal refrigerator for up to 30 days is also terrific news and will allow the vaccine to be distributed broadly.

"All in all this is another great day in the struggle against COVID-19. We have a long way to go, of course, but we are accumulating the tools we will need to end the pandemic."

The announcement from Moderna is available here.