FACTBOX-Comments on initial study of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine
Sept 4- Russia’s “Sputnik-V” COVID-19 vaccine produced an antibody response in all participants in early-stage trials, according to results published on Friday by The Lancet medical journal that were hailed by Moscow as an answer to its critics. “The data on the Russian vaccine studies reported in The Lancet are encouraging- demonstrating the safety and…
Sept 4 (Reuters) – Russia’s “Sputnik-V” COVID-19 vaccine
produced an antibody response in all participants in early-stage
trials, according to results published on Friday by The Lancet
medical journal that were hailed by Moscow as an answer to its
critics.
Following are comments from experts on the results of thetrials:
Brendan Wren, Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis, LondonSchool of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
“The data on the Russian vaccine studies reported in TheLancet are encouraging – demonstrating the safety andimmunogenicity of the adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccines.
The results are unsurprising as the Oxford group have alsoshown similar adenovirus-based vaccines do not produce majorside effects in humans and that immunological responses to theSpike protein are observed.
The report is a case of ‘so far so good’, but immunologicalresponses may not necessarily evoke protection and furtherinvestigation is needed on the effectiveness of this vaccine forprevention of COVID-19.”
Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health,Britain’s University of Southampton:
“This manuscript confirms some of the public statements froma few weeks ago, namely that this appears to be a promisingvaccine candidate.
At this stage, we do not know if the vaccine actually works– that is what the Phase 3 trials will tell us.
Public confidence in any licensed vaccine is vital, andsuggestions from both Russia and the USA that a vaccine may befast-tracked without the proper research having taken place areproblematic.”
(Editing by Keith Weir and Frances Kerry)