Johnson & Johnson said Monday that it has temporarily suspended clinical trials of a new canopy vaccine candidate after a study participant became ill for an unknown reason, delaying one of the most high-profile efforts to contain a global pandemic.
Johnson & Johnson announced Monday (Oct. 12) that it has temporarily suspended trials of a new canopy vaccine after a study participant became ill for an unknown reason.
The news delays one of the most high-profile efforts to contain a global pandemic.
AstraZeneca suspended late-stage trials of its vaccine candidate last month, also after a trial participant became ill for unknown reasons, in another major setback in the race to develop a new canopy vaccine.
The participant’s illness is being reviewed and evaluated by an independent monitoring committee and the company’s clinical and safety physicians, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson & Johnson said the current “research pause” in vaccine dosing is different from the “regulatory hold” requested by health authorities.
The company added that such a pause is normal in large trials, which could include thousands of people.
Johnson & Johnson just began the final phase of the 60,000-person trial last month, with results expected by the end of this year or early 2021.
Johnson & Johnson declined to disclose the condition of the participants because of privacy concerns.
But the company said some study participants were given a placebo, and it’s unclear whether participants with serious illnesses in the clinical trial received a placebo or related treatment.
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