Scientists have been working around the clock to develop a vaccine. [Reuters]
With coronavirus cases around the world now at over 51 million, scientists have been working around the clock to develop a vaccine.
This week, a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech hit the headlines, after it was found to be 90% effective.
However, the Pfizer vaccine is just one of dozens of vaccines being tested around the world.
Other promising candidates include a jab being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca in the UK, and one under development at US pharmaceutical giant, Moderna.
Here’s a look at the vaccines under development around the world, and when they could be ready.
Pfizer and BioNTech
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine, called BNT162b2, is currently undergoing Phase III trials, and has been found to be more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 in participants.
Dr Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO, said: “Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19.
“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.”
Following the results, Pfizer and BioNTech plan to submit the vaccine to the US Food and Drug Administration in the third week of November, indicating it could be rolled out before Christmas.
The UK government has already purchased 40 million doses, and claims that 10 million will be made available before Christmas.
University of Oxford and AstraZeneca
A jab developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca was initially tipped to be the front-runner in the fight against Covid-19, and is now just weeks behind Pfizer’s vaccine.
The vaccine, called ChAdOx1, is also undergoing Phase III trials around the world, with results expected in a matter of weeks.
Speaking on BBC's World at One show earlier this week, Sir John Bell, who is leading the Oxford vaccine team, said: “Data from our first interim analysis is also likely to be available in the very near future, and by that I mean weeks not months.
"There are many pathogens where we've tried for decades and never managed to get a vaccine, you know, malaria, HIV. There are lots of diseases where making vaccines have proved to be almost impossible, but they've managed to break through with this with a very, very good result.”
The UK has already stockpiled four million doses of the University of Oxford’s vaccine, in the hopes of starting to offer the vaccine to vulnerable Brits before the end of the year.
Moderna
US pharmaceutical film Moderna has relied on similar technology to Pfizer produce its vaccine, according to Dr Anthony Fauci.
Their vaccine, called mRNA-1273, is also undergoing Phase III trials, in which 30,000 US participants will receive the jab.
According to Moderna, 500 million doses of the vaccine could be delivered at the start of next year, thanks in part to a deal with Swiss manufacturer Lonza, who will help to manufacture up to one billion doses a year.
CanSino and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology in China
CanSino’s vaccine, Ad5-nCoV, is a viral vector vaccine and is one of the lead vaccine contenders in China.
Results from the Phase II trial showed that the vaccine produces ‘significant immune responses in the majority of recipients’, with no serious side effects.
And while CanSino is technically still in Phase II of its trial, in June the pharmaceutical company became the first to receive limited approval to use its vaccine in people.
The Chinese government has approved the vaccine for military use only, and it remains unclear when it expects to roll it out to the public.
Gamaleya Research Institute in Russia
Russia has steamed ahead with its leading vaccine candidate, Sputnik V, despite a lack of published evidence it’s safe for use.
The vaccine uses two strains of adenovirus, and requires a second follow-up injection after 21 days to boost the immune response.
Russia is yet to publish any data from its clinical trials but claims that the vaccine is 92% effective.
In a statement, the Gamaleya Research Institute said that 20 of 16,000 volunteers who received the vaccine contracted Covid-19.
It added: “As a result of a statistical analysis of 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the case split between vaccinated individuals and those who received the placebo indicates that the Sputnik V vaccine had an efficacy rate of 92% after the second dose.”
Janssen
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen received the green light yesterday to carry out late-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine in Mexico.
The vaccine, called Ad26.COV2-S started its Phase III trial in September, including 60,000 people in 215 sites in the US, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and South Africa.
Novavax
Maryland-based Novavax has developed a vaccine candidate called NVX-CoV2373 that is administered in two doses, 21 days apart.
At the end of September, Novavax announced the launch of its Phase III trial in the UK, which will tests the vaccine up to 10,000 people.
And this week, the FDA granted the vaccine fast track designation, meaning it could be rolled out in the US soon.
Dr Gregory Glenn, President of Research and Development at Novavax, said: “The FDA’s decision to grant Fast Track Designation for NVX-CoV2373 reflects the urgent need for a safe and effective vaccine to prevent Covid-19, and we look forward to working closely with the agency to accelerate access to this vaccine.
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“While the regulatory review of this clinical program will be expedited, Novavax remains committed to a data-driven and scientifically rigorous approach in demonstrating safety and efficacy, which we believe will support confidence in the vaccine in the US and globally.”