Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate enters phase 3 clinical trial

The National Institutes of Health today announced that a COVID-19 vaccine candidate co-developed by Moderna, Inc. and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has begun a phase 3 clinical trial.

The mRNA-1273 investigational vaccine will be tested at U.S. clinical research sites on approximately 30,000 adult volunteers who do not have COVID-19.

“Results from early-stage clinical testing indicate the investigational mRNA-1273 vaccine is safe and immunogenic, supporting the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial,” said NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, M.D. “This scientifically rigorous, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is designed to determine if the vaccine can prevent COVID-19 and for how long such protection may last.”