An experimental vaccine Mrna- 1273 to protect against SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19 is generally well tolerated. And, the vaccine prompted neutralizing of antibody action in healthy adults. The Phase 1 trial currently going on is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
The development of the experimental vaccine is a joint effort of researchers at NIAID and researchers at Moderna Inc. at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Developed by Moderna, Mrna -1273 the design of the vaccine is to induce neutralizing antibodies aimed at a chunk of the coronavirus ‘spike’ protein. The virus binds on this protein to enter human cells.
First Stage Result based on Group of 45 Participants
This review of the interim report provides details of initial findings from the first 45 participants from 18 to 55 years of age. Three groups of 15 participants each were administered two intramuscular injections, of either 100, 25, or 250 micrograms of the vaccine under investigation at an interval of 28 days.
Later, in April, the trial for experimental vaccine was expanded to include adults above the age of 55 years, increasing the participant count to 120.
Following administering of experimental vaccine, none serious adverse events reported. Meanwhile, half of the participants reported headache, fatigue, pain at injection site, chills, or myalgia. The second vaccination resulted in more systemic adverse effects, and among those who received higher dose of the vaccine.
Therefore, with data of side effects and immune response of various dosage of the vaccine, it informed the use of dose or planned for use in Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of the experimental vaccine.
The interim analysis of the experimental vaccine includes results of tests to measure vaccine-induced neutralizing activity levels through day 43 after the second dose.