SEATTLE — Nov. 9, 2020 — Dr. Larry Corey, virologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and co-leader of the COVID-19 Prevention Network’s vaccine testing program, commented on early results from the Pfizer and BioNTech Phase 3 vaccine candidate against COVID-19:
This is a momentous day for science, and we congratulate the teams at Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE for reaching a significant milestone in our shared mission to develop vaccines against COVID-19. As coronavirus infection rates surge in countries around the world, we’re reminded more than ever that we need safe and effective vaccines to slow transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and prevent severe COVID-19 disease.
Today’s results provide optimism that the vaccine platforms designed to target the virus’s spike protein will be an effective tool in the fight against the medical and economic aspects of the COVID-19 epidemic. While it remains to be known whether these early results will translate to long-lasting, durable immune response, we should all be greatly encouraged by today’s announcement. This milestone strengthens our imperative to continue enrolling and conducting all of the Phase 3 vaccine trials in our program so that we can get comprehensive data on each of the vaccine candidates. We will need as many types of vaccine platforms as we can define if we are to accomplish the national and global vaccine effort to which we all aspire.
The goal of the CoVPN vaccine testing program is to identify multiple safe, effective vaccines so that we have enough doses to vaccinate the global population and have vaccines that will work for all of us. We need vaccines that work for children, pregnant women and older adults. With this in mind, please visit www.preventcovid.org to learn more about our vaccine testing program and how you can help end the uncertainty of this pandemic by joining one of our studies.
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About Fred Hutch
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch’s pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation’s first National Cancer Institute-funded cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women’s Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network.
CONTACT
Claire Hudson
206.919.8300
crhudson@fredhutch.org
For the Media