Astrazeneca used "outdated information" in new trials: US Federal health

Results from a US trial of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine may have used "outdated information," US federal health officials alleged on Tuesday.

The announcement came following the recent trial report of AstraZeneca, which stated that the coronavirus vaccine is 79% effective in preventing symptomatic diseases. The findings came out in a major experiment in the United States, Chile and Peru that paved the way for its long-awaited application for US approval.

The Data and Safety Monitoring Board announced in a report that it was concerned that AstraZeneca might have given an incomplete view of the effectiveness data.

"Late Monday, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) announced AstraZeneca that it was influenced by information written by AstraZeneca on initial data from its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial," the report read.

"The DSMB showed concern that AstraZeneca may have added outdated data from that trial, which may have given an incomplete view of the efficacy data. "

"We urge the group to work with the DSMB to evaluate the efficacy data and ensure the most reliable, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible."

AstraZeneca reported Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine gave strong security to adults of all ages in a long-anticipated US study.

The finding was seen as a step towards restoring public confidence in the shot worldwide and getting approval in the US.

According to a study of 30,000 people, the vaccine was 79% effective at blocking significant cases of COVID-19 — including in older adults.

There were no severe complaints or hospitalizations among vaccinated volunteers, compared with five such cases in participants who received dummy shots — a small number, but like with Britain and other countries' findings that the vaccine protects against the worst of the disease.

AstraZeneca also said the study's confident safety monitors found no severe side results, including no heightened risk of rare blood clots like those identified in Europe, a scare that led many countries to briefly suspend vaccinations last week.