(CNN) -
The Moderna vaccine is 94.5% effective against the coronavirus, according to the first data released by the company on Monday.
"Obviously, these are very exciting results," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease physician.
"It is as good as it sounds: 94.5% is truly exceptional."
Moderna is the second US pharmaceutical company to announce the efficacy results of its covid-19 vaccine.
Last week, Pfizer said early data shows its vaccine is more than 90% effective against the disease.
Both vaccines use genetic material called messenger RNA to activate the body's immune system.
No vaccine currently on the market uses messenger RNA.
Fauci's agency, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, collaborated with Moderna on the development of the vaccine.
Moderna's results showed that the vaccine protected people from contracting mild and severe forms of COVID-19, according to the company.
The results have been reviewed by an independent panel called the Security and Data Monitoring Board.
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