Oxford Vaccine Clinical Trials Resumed After A Pause

[Anta Assamey]

After four days of halting the vaccine trials, the University of Oxford, in a statement on Saturday, said that it is resuming randomised controlled clinical trials of its potential Covid-19 vaccine across all trial sites in the UK, after getting the approval from the health regulatory authority. The university, in partnership with pharma giant AstraZeneca, is developing Coronavirus vaccine, AZD 1222.

Clinical trials were halted in all countries, including India, after one of the volunteer exhibited signs of a spinal disorder.

“AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, as the trial sponsor, cannot disclose further medical information,” the company said. “All trial investigators and participants will be updated with the relevant information and this will be disclosed on global clinical registries, according to the clinical trial and regulatory standards.”

“In trials on a large-scale like this, it is expected that some participants will become unwell and every case must be carefully evaluated to ensure careful assessment of safety,” the statement by University of Oxford said.

The release went on to say that a “standard review process triggered a study pause to vaccination across all of our global trials to allow the review of safety data by an independent safety review committee, and the national regulators” on September 6.

Over 100 vaccines are being developed around the world to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 2.85 crore people and claimed 9,16,348 lives, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over 1.92 crore people have recovered from the infection worldwide.