Coronavirus: Novavax records over 90pc efficacy in company trials

Trials of almost 30,000 participants have found the US-produced Novavax Covid-19 vaccine to have an overall efficacy of 90.4 per cent.

A Novavax centre in Maryland, the US. Picture: AFP

New trials have found the US-produced Novavax Covid-19 vaccine has an efficacy of more than 90 per cent, paving the way for its approval in Australia later this year.

Australia has pre-ordered 51 million doses of the jab.

The study, undertaken by Novavax and published Monday, measured the vaccine’s “efficacy, safety and immunogenicity” in 30,000 participants from communities and demographics most impacted by the virus across 119 sites in the US and Mexico.

The trials provided vaccinations for two thirds of participants, who received jabs three weeks apart, with the remaining participants receiving placebo shots.

The results found 93 per cent efficacy against “predominantly circulating variants of concern”, 91 per cent efficacy in “high-risk populations” and 100 per cent efficacy against variants “not considered variants of interest of concern”.

The vaccine maker said its jab provided 100 per cent protection against moderate and severe disease and a 90.4 per cent overall efficacy.

The promising results will help meet a global demand for more vaccines, said Novavax chief executive officer and president Stanley Erck.

“Today, Novavax is one step closer to addressing the critical and persistent global public health need for additional Covid-19 vaccines. These clinical results reinforce that NVX-CoV2373 is extremely effective and offers complete protection against both moderate and severe Covid-19 infection,” he said.

“Novavax continues to work with a sense of urgency to complete our regulatory submissions and deliver this vaccine, built on a well understood and proven platform, to a world that is still in great need of vaccines.”

The Novavax vaccine is one of nine jabs backed by global vaccine development group Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

Australia has pre-ordered 51 million doses of the jab which, according to the Department of Health website, were scheduled to arrive mid year.

“If it is proven safe and effective and is approved for use, it will be available in Australia in the second half of 2021,” the department’s website reads.

“It is anticipated that 51 million doses will be available, which will supply enough doses to cover Australia’s whole population.”

However manufacturing supply shortages reported in The Australian in July could prevent the vaccine from arriving until as late as 2022.

Novavax said would not reach full manufacturing capacity until well into the third quarter of this year as it struggles to source bioreactor bags and other raw supplies needed for manufacturing.

While Novavax is reportedly looking for a site to develop the vaccine in Australia, it is currently manufactured out of several sites in Europe.