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Covid-19: AstraZeneca laboratory accused of having concealed an error during its tests

2020-11-27T18:53:59.359Z


Part of the results published by the British company were discovered through a dosage error. Embarrassing, feel certain


The confession, in itself, does not call into question the known results.

But it is likely to erode confidence in the vaccine currently being developed.

The AstraZeneca laboratory is singled out on Thursday for concealing from the public an error made during clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine.

The British company, which is working on this project with the University of Oxford, had revealed promising results on Monday, with an average efficiency rate of 70%.

More, therefore, than the 60% that is estimated to be necessary to contain the coronavirus epidemic.

But these results were divided into two groups.

The first had received two similar doses, one month apart.

The efficiency rate reached 62%.

The second group had received a half dose, then a full dose a month later.

This had an efficiency rate of 90%.

Dosing error

"It's an interesting lesson", congratulated Olivier Nataf, president of the laboratory for France.

There is an opportunity for availability for the population, where fewer doses are needed to vaccinate more people.

"

Asked by Reuters about the reasons that had prompted researchers to administer an initial half-dose only to certain patients, an AstraZeneca executive ended up conceding, the same day, that it was the result of chance: a company contractual was simply wrong in the doses.

The laboratory had chosen to continue the experiment on this basis.

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While the results appear to be an avenue to explore, some experts question how AstraZeneca seemed to prefer to cover up this mistake from the public rather than play cards on the table.

To the point, perhaps, of making the authorities doubt when requesting their green light for a sale on the market.

“I think they've really hurt confidence in their entire development agenda,” said Geoffrey Porges, analyst for investment bank SVB Leerink, in The New York Times.

" Bad grade "

The daily also quotes Natalie Dean, biostatistician and specialist in clinical trials at the University of Florida, who on Twitter gave AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford "a bad mark" in terms of "transparency" and "rigor".

The company assures us that its tests "were carried out according to the highest standards".

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On Wednesday, however, one of AstraZeneca's executives confirmed that the group that had been tested using an initial half-dose - and showing the best results - did not include any patients over the age of 55.

Information revealed to the public the day before by the American federal authorities ... Enough to fuel even more doubt as to the company's desire for transparency.

VIDEO.

"I will not make vaccination compulsory"

Source: leparis

All life articles on 2020-11-27

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