On Monday, the British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca announced positive results from a third phase trial aimed at treating symptoms of COVID-19.

According to AstraZeneca, the drug&nbsp;which is a combination of two antibodies created a statistically significant reduction in severe COVID-19 symptoms or death in non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms. &nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-stole-blueprint-for-oxford-covid-vaccine-to-create-sputnik-v-sources-419855">Russia stole blueprint for Oxford Covid vaccine to create Sputnik V: Sources</a>

A total of 903 participants were involved in the trial, 90 per cent of whom were at high risk of progressing to severe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>.

As per the information available on the AstraZeneca website, an analysis of participants treated within five days of symptoms onset found that "AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing severe COVID-19 or death (from any cause) by 67%."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch | United Nations, World Health Organization come together for a collective goal

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Final clinical trials or phase three trials are being conducted on the treatment, also known as AZD7442, to determine its safety and effectiveness.

"With continued cases of serious COVID-19 infections across the globe, there is a significant need for new therapies like AZD7442 that can be used to protect vulnerable populations ... and can also help prevent progression to severe disease," said Hugh Montgomery, the trial's principal investigator.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccines-prevent-severe-covid-even-from-delta-study-419798">Vaccines prevent severe Covid, even from Delta: study</a>

"These positive results show that a convenient intramuscular dose of AZD7442 could play an important role in helping combat this devastating pandemic." he added.

In Britain, AstraZeneca's separate Covid vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, contributed to the quick response to the Covid threat.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

On Monday, the British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca announced positive results from a third phase trial aimed at treating symptoms of COVID-19. According to AstraZeneca, the drug which is a combination of two antibodies created a statistically significant reduction in severe COVID-19 symptoms or death in non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms.

On Monday, the British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca announced positive results from a third phase trial aimed at treating symptoms of COVID-19. According to AstraZeneca, the drug which is a combination of two antibodies created a statistically significant reduction in severe COVID-19 symptoms or death in non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms. Also read | Russia stole blueprint for Oxford Covid vaccine to create Sputnik V: Sources A total of 903 participants were involved in the trial, 90 per cent of whom were at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. As per the information available on the AstraZeneca website, an analysis of participants treated within five days of symptoms onset found that "AZD7442 reduced the risk of developing severe COVID-19 or death (from any cause) by 67%." Watch | United Nations, World Health Organization come together for a collective goal Final clinical trials or phase three trials are being conducted on the treatment, also known as AZD7442, to determine its safety and effectiveness. "With continued cases of serious COVID-19 infections across the globe, there is a significant need for new therapies like AZD7442 that can be used to protect vulnerable populations ... and can also help prevent progression to severe disease," said Hugh Montgomery, the trial's principal investigator. Also read | Vaccines prevent severe Covid, even from Delta: study "These positive results show that a convenient intramuscular dose of AZD7442 could play an important role in helping combat this devastating pandemic." he added. In Britain, AstraZeneca's separate Covid vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, contributed to the quick response to the Covid threat. (With inputs from agencies)

AstraZeneca's new vaccine trial aims to treat severe COVID-19 symptoms

Canadian regulators on Friday authorised its third coronavirus vaccine, AstraZeneca, for all adults.

''This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated, and sooner," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, adding that the nation of 38 million people will now get 6.5 million vaccines in total before the end of March, 500,000 more now with the new approval.

Health Canada approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in people 18 and over, expressing confidence it would work for the elderly even though some countries, including France, have authorised it only for use in people under 65, saying there is not enough evidence it works in older adults.

With trials showing about 62 per cent efficacy, the vaccine appears to offer less protection than those already authorised, but experts have said any vaccine with an efficacy rate of over 50 per cent could help stop the outbreak.&nbsp;

Health Canada's chief medical adviser, Dr Supriya Sharma said ''It's a good option.''

Sharma said no one has died or become severely ill in trials of the vaccines now approved by Canada or in those of Johnson &amp; Johnson and Novavax shots, which could be approved soon.

It is previously given the green light to&nbsp;Pfizer and Moderna's coronavirus vaccine.

Health authorities in Germany and other countries have raised concerns that AstraZeneca didn't test the vaccine in enough older people to prove it works for them, and indicated they would not recommend it for people over 65.&nbsp;

Belgium has authorized it only for people 55 and under Health Canada said its decision was based on pooled analyses from four ongoing clinical studies trials as well as data in countries where it has been approved.

''Based on the totality of the information, the benefit-risk profile of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine is positive for the proposed indication in adults 18 years and over," Health Canada said in information posted online.

''We're starting to get real-world evidence. There is evidence that in older age group it would be effective,'' Sharma said.

Canada has now ordered 22 million doses of the AstraZeneca shot, which was co-developed by researchers at the University of Oxford. It will also receive up to 1.9 million doses through the global vaccine-sharing initiative known as COVAX by the end of June.

Trudeau said 2 million of those doses will come from the Serum Institute of India, which Sharma said uses the same recipe but a slightly different method and was also approved.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has already been authorized in more than 50 countries. It is cheaper and easier to handle than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs deep-cold storage that is not widespread in many developing nations. Both vaccines require two shots per person, given weeks apart.

Canada and many European countries have been struggling to vaccinate people as quickly as Britain, Israel, the US and elsewhere. Canada does not have domestic production and Trudeau's government has been accused of not obtaining vaccines fast enough even while also being criticized for ordering enough doses overall to supply its population 10 times over.

The AstraZeneca vaccine forms the bulk of COVAX's stockpile and concerns were recently raised by an early study that suggested it might not prevent mild and moderate disease caused by the variant first seen South Africa.&nbsp;

Last week, South Africa scaled back its planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, opting instead to use an unlicensed shot from Johnson &amp; Johnson for its health care workers.&nbsp;

Canadian regulators on Friday authorised its third coronavirus vaccine, AstraZeneca, for all adults. ''This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated, and sooner," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, adding that the nation of 38 million people will now get 6.

Canadian regulators on Friday authorised its third coronavirus vaccine, AstraZeneca, for all adults. ''This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated, and sooner," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, adding that the nation of 38 million people will now get 6.5 million vaccines in total before the end of March, 500,000 more now with the new approval. Health Canada approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in people 18 and over, expressing confidence it would work for the elderly even though some countries, including France, have authorised it only for use in people under 65, saying there is not enough evidence it works in older adults. With trials showing about 62 per cent efficacy, the vaccine appears to offer less protection than those already authorised, but experts have said any vaccine with an efficacy rate of over 50 per cent could help stop the outbreak. Health Canada's chief medical adviser, Dr Supriya Sharma said ''It's a good option.'' Sharma said no one has died or become severely ill in trials of the vaccines now approved by Canada or in those of Johnson & Johnson and Novavax shots, which could be approved soon. It is previously given the green light to Pfizer and Moderna's coronavirus vaccine. Health authorities in Germany and other countries have raised concerns that AstraZeneca didn't test the vaccine in enough older people to prove it works for them, and indicated they would not recommend it for people over 65. Belgium has authorized it only for people 55 and under Health Canada said its decision was based on pooled analyses from four ongoing clinical studies trials as well as data in countries where it has been approved. ''Based on the totality of the information, the benefit-risk profile of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine is positive for the proposed indication in adults 18 years and over," Health Canada said in information posted online. ''We're starting to get real-world evidence. There is evidence that in older age group it would be effective,'' Sharma said. Canada has now ordered 22 million doses of the AstraZeneca shot, which was co-developed by researchers at the University of Oxford. It will also receive up to 1.9 million doses through the global vaccine-sharing initiative known as COVAX by the end of June. Trudeau said 2 million of those doses will come from the Serum Institute of India, which Sharma said uses the same recipe but a slightly different method and was also approved. The AstraZeneca vaccine has already been authorized in more than 50 countries. It is cheaper and easier to handle than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs deep-cold storage that is not widespread in many developing nations. Both vaccines require two shots per person, given weeks apart. Canada and many European countries have been struggling to vaccinate people as quickly as Britain, Israel, the US and elsewhere. Canada does not have domestic production and Trudeau's government has been accused of not obtaining vaccines fast enough even while also being criticized for ordering enough doses overall to supply its population 10 times over. The AstraZeneca vaccine forms the bulk of COVAX's stockpile and concerns were recently raised by an early study that suggested it might not prevent mild and moderate disease caused by the variant first seen South Africa. Last week, South Africa scaled back its planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, opting instead to use an unlicensed shot from Johnson & Johnson for its health care workers.

Canadian health agency authorises AstraZeneca vaccine

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AstraZeneca's new vaccine trial aims to treat severe COVID-19 symptoms

Canadian health agency authorises AstraZeneca vaccine