(1/7) Spectacular news from Novavax. The efficacy of their vaccine matches Pfizer & Moderna, but it doesn't have the same ultra-cold storage requirements.

UK phase 3 trial results:

95.6% original COVID-19
85.6% UK strain ( #B117)
89.3% efficacy overall

(2/7) Importantly, the vaccine was tested in a large number of people (>15,000) in the UK, aged 18-84 years.

Almost a third (27%) were aged over 65 years.

(3/7) The company also announced results of a smaller phase 2 trial of their vaccine in South Africa (>4,400 people).

Over 90% of cases that were detected in the trial were attributable to the South African variant, which did affect the vaccine's efficacy.

(4/7) Overall, the efficacy of the Novavax vaccine against what was predominantly the South African variant of COVID-19 was 49.4%.

However, 6% of participants had HIV.

When efficacy was examined in the people without HIV, it was 60% against the South African variant.

(5/7) The company now plans to immediately develop a vaccine for the South African variant, either as a third booster dose, or as a combination vaccine that will protect against the different variants.

Testing is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2021.

(6/7) This is excellent news, which shows that we now have a vaccine which is suitable for use throughout the world.

Unlike the mRNA vaccines, the Novavax vaccine is a protein subunit vaccine, which can be stored in a standard refrigerator.

(7/7) Full press release here:

https://ir.novavax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-demonstrates-893-efficacy-uk-phase-3