아스트라제네카•옥스퍼드 "코로나19 백신, 평균 70% 예방효과"... 90% 까지

British drugmaker AstraZeneca says its COVID-19 vaccine, developed with Oxford University, appears to be up to 90-percent effective, based on a late-stage trial.
They're the third major drug company to announce late-stage results for a vaccine after Pfizer and Moderna.
Lee Seung-jae has more on the latest developments.
AstraZeneca announced Monday that its interim analysis of its clinical trials showed its COVID-19 vaccine has an average success rate of 70-percent in protecting against the virus.
However,... a different dosage resulted in a higher effectiveness,... reaching up to 90-percent.
Trial participants who received a half dose followed by a full dose at least one month apart,... showed an effectiveness of 90-percent.
Another trial showed 62-percent efficacy when given two full doses at least a month apart.
Combining the two trials,... the average success rate was 70-percent.
In addition, no hospitalizations or severe illnesses were reported among the trial participants.
AstraZeneca's vaccine,... developed with Oxford University, is quickly becoming the preferred choice,... due to its affordable price and easier distribution process.
While each dose is expected to cost around four U.S. dollars,... the vaccine will also be available on a non-profit basis to low and middle income countries.
The distribution process will be much simpler,... as the vaccine can be kept in a conventional fridge used to store vaccines around the world.
It also has a shelf life of up to six months.
It's welcome news for South Korea,... as SK Bioscience has an agreement with AstraZeneca to supply the vaccines to people in South Korea.
The WHO also welcomed the news.
The UN health agency's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan noted how the latest vaccine is both affordable and easy to store,... which will be "good for countries and people everywhere."
The final analysis is expected next month.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.