I said earlier when you posted the original link that it was very light on detail. Lots of could's and may's.
Well now AZ have posted a response we can see that the AZ report yesterday was actually an interim analysis based on a pre-determined cut-off date of 17 February. I'm not sure whether the DSMB were aware of that and maybe that's why they said that the findings may have been outdated. But in fairness to AZ they made that point clear in their announcement yesterday and most decent media outlets also picked up on it to (but no mention of it in the BBC article I saw). Anyway, the DSMB harboured concerns, which is absolutely OK, and relayed that information to both AZ and to the NIAID, also absolutely OK.
What isn't absolutely OK is that the NIAID decided to make a public announcement, in the early hours of the morning FFS, to let the whole world know what was happening resulting in the AZ share price taking big hits both here and the US. What's more the guy from the London School of Tropical Medicine says these things are usually dealt with privately, and that the NIAID statement was, in his words, totally unprecedented.
AZ actually has all the data now and is working hard to put it together within the next 48 hours, which will hopefully resolve things and get the vaccine authorised in the US. But I'm really starting to think there's some sort of worldwide conspiracy to discredit the AZ/Oxford vaccine and I'm wondering if it's anything to do with then fact that it is the only one being provided to the world at cost.
On a different note it's clear you have some issues with AZ and I'm not sure if this is specifically to do with this vaccine or if it's a more longstanding beef. And I agree that their performance so far hasn't been great, possibly because they aren't vaccine specialists. But it has to be said that Oxford were looking for a specific kind of partner in this venture, and that is somebody who is willing to forego massive profits and roll this out to the world at cost. And guess what. They weren't exactly overcome with potential suitors. Now you accused me of white knighting when I brought this up yesterday so I'll ask you a direct question. Can you see an end to this worldwide pandemic whilst upwards of 90% of the worlds vaccine supply is being produced at massive profits?
www.thejournal.ie
