LONDON – U.S. officials say they were told AstraZeneca PLC may have released obsolete information on test results for the Covid-19 vaccine, a surprise revelation that immediately called into question the company’s claim a day before the results showed that the shot was very effective.
The statement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases this morning was released a day after AstraZeneca released provisional data on large-scale trials in the United States, according to which it stated that its vaccine Covid- 19 was 79% effective in preventing symptomatic disease.
The results served as a vote of confidence in the shooting, which has been clouded by uncertainty over previous results, confusing efficiency and large-scale production problems. More recently, reported cases of blood clotting in Europe raised concerns about vaccine safety, although European regulators have recommended its continued use. U.S. trials showed no link to the vaccine and the NIAID statement on Tuesday raised no doubts about the finding.
NIAID, in its highly unusual statement, said an independent data control board working with AstraZeneca in conducting its trials raised concerns about the company’s disclosures and had urged the pharmacist to work with it to ensure that the most up-to-date and accurate efficacy data would be made public.
NIAID said the control board, an independent body working alongside a pharmaceutical company to conduct trials, “expressed concern that AstraZeneca could include obsolete information from that trial.” He said it could have “provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data.” The agency said it urged AstraZeneca “to review efficacy data and ensure that the most up-to-date and accurate efficacy data is made public as quickly as possible.”