J&J's Chief Scientific Officer on Covid-19 vaccine candidate results

Johnson & Johnson said Friday its single-dose coronavirus vaccine was 66% effective overall in protecting against Covid-19. The vaccine, however, appeared to be less potent against other variants.

The Food and Drug Administration has indicated it would authorize a vaccine that’s safe and at least 50% effective. The flu vaccine, by comparison, generally reduces people’s risk of getting influenza by 40% to 60% compared with people who aren’t inoculated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The level of protection varied by region, J&J said, with the vaccine demonstrating 66% effectiveness overall, 72% in the United States, 66% in Latin America and 57% in South Africa after four weeks.

J&J said the vaccine was 85% effective in preventing severe disease four weeks after vaccination in all adults. The vaccine offered complete protection against Covid-related hospitalizations four weeks after vaccination, the company said.

“We’re proud to have reached this critical milestone and our commitment to address this global health crisis continues with urgency for everyone, everywhere,” J&J CEO Alex Gorsky said in a statement.

Shares of J&J were down about 4% in midday trading following the announcement and amid a broader market selloff. Shares of Novavax, which is also developing a Covid-19 vaccine, were up about 65% midday, and Moderna shares were up 9%.

The highly anticipated results were based on 468 confirmed Covid-19 infections among the phase three trial’s more than 43,000 volunteers, according to J&J. The company said the trial includes those infected with B.1.351, the new, highly contagious strain found in South Africa.

Effectiveness against severe disease increased over time with no cases in vaccinated participants reported after day 49, according to the company. Protection was consistent across race and age, including those over age 60.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said the most important finding of the data is the vaccine may keep people out of the hospital and prevent them from getting severe illness.

“The most important thing, more important than whether you prevent someone from getting aches and a sore throat, is preventing people” from getting severe disease, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on a call with reporters. “That will alleviate so much of the stress and human suffering and death in this epidemic.”

J&J said the vaccine was well tolerated, with no significant safety concerns related to the vaccine reported, including anaphylaxis.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, called the J&J data “fantastic,” saying in a tweet that it showed the vaccine produced “sustained (and increasing!) immune protection over time.”

“This one shot vaccine was highly effective at preventing severe disease, even with new variants,” he said. “The milieu of disease now is more complex; even in U.S. — trials done today are running into more mutated cases. Make no mistake: this is an important and wonderful development.”

U.S. officials and Wall Street analysts are eagerly anticipating the authorization of J&J’s vaccine, which could happen as early as next month. Public health officials and infectious disease experts say world leaders will need an array of drugs and vaccines to defeat the virus, which has killed more than 400,000 Americans in about a year.

Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide.


Connect with CNBC News Online

#CNBC
#CNBCTV

[chrisyoung]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[Newbport]

Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates may god have mercy on your soul!!!! hahahahahahahahah

[steampope]

Apparently everyone has it except you and me and everyone we

[PandaArmy-fyzh]

how low do you have to be to interview with cnbc

[ritwiknandakumar]

I think a college student knows more science than him!

[deshanad]

University medical center hospital new Orleans LA

[karadizon]

After seeing data analysis of flu vaccinations at 44% efficacy, I have faith in J&J vaccinations. Still great news! Lowering the curve and hopefully prevent people from hospitalization nor dying. Have faith! 🙏