U.S. biotechnology company Moderna's shares gained more than 30 percent pre-market after the company said the vaccine for new coronary pneumonia, RNA-1273, is safe and well-tolerated and is expected to begin final stage vaccine trials in July.
According to a small sample of data from the first human trial, the experimental vaccine from Moderna showed promising early signs that it could produce an immune system response that would help the body fight off the new coronavirus.
The company said in an announcement on Monday that the main purpose of the study was to observe the safety of the vaccine, which did not show significant warning signs in the small phase I trial.
The trial was conducted jointly with the U.S. government, and Moderna plans to move forward with a broader trial.
The researchers also examined blood samples from the test subjects and whether the vaccine helped them produce antibodies that could fight the virus.
The researchers found that at the two lower dose levels used in this study, the antibody levels found after the second consolidation injection equal or exceed those of patients recovering from the infection.
"This is a very good signal that we have produced antibodies that can stop the virus from replicating," said Moderna CEO tephane Bancel in an interview. The data, he said, "couldn't be better".
Bancel said the safety appears to be good and the response is typical of a vaccine response. These reaction symptoms include pain and redness at the injection site, as well as temporary fever or chills that quickly go away on their own, he said.
Bancel said the company felt the need to release interim data from the trial because of the stakes.
The second phase of the trial is expected to begin soon, and Moderna said in a statement that the final phase will begin in July.
Special Report: Fighting The New Coronavirus
