After First COVID-19 Vaccine Approval, How Will Other Trials Maintain Placebo Control?

US FDA officials fear comparator arms would be unwieldy for ongoing trials as they consider alternative methods to measure efficacy if placebo controls can't be maintained for the studies of other candidate vaccines once a product is on the market.

Antibodies immunoglobulins attacking coronavirus covid-19 influenza virus cell, 3D immune system medical illustration background. Corona virus 2019-ncov sars cell, igm. Coronavirus sars-cov-2 disease
Alternative statistical approaches may be possible if placebo controls cannot be maintained. • Source: Shutterstock

US Food and Drug Administration officials are thinking about ways to ensure the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trials for coronavirus vaccine candidates can continue even after a product successfully completes the regulatory process.

Once the FDA approves or grants an emergency use authorization to make a vaccine available, trial enrollment may become much more difficult and those already enrolled may wish to drop...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Vaccines

US FDA’s June Approval Forecast: Infection Prevention, Cancer And HAE

 

Upcoming FDA user fee goal dates include novel products from a busy lung cancer pipeline, a single-dose passive immunization against RSV for infants, what could be the first oral HAE acute treatment, and a first-in-class HAE preventive antibody.

Pink Sheet Podcast: US FDA’s Private Pharma CEO Tour, HHS Changes COVID-19 Vaccine Advice

Pink Sheet reporter and editors consider the issues that could emerge during upcoming private FDA forums with pharma CEOs, as well as the impact of the surprising move by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit the CDC recommendation for annual COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

US FDA Meeting Drought Ends … With A Vengeance

 

The first 100 days of the Trump Administration were notable for an extraordinary decline in the number of public meetings hosted by the US Food and Drug Administration. But the schedule changed quickly.

HHS Rescinds COVID-19 Vaccine Advice, Usurping US CDC Role

 
• By 

By stepping into the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is causing further confusion and uncertainty about vaccine policy, experts say.

More from Pink Sheet

How Pharma Companies Can Mitigate The Impact Of US Tariffs On The Supply Chain

 
• By 

If US tariffs on pharmaceutical supply chain products come into force they could be disruptive for companies. Ewan Townsend, of the international law firm Arnold & Porter, explains how companies can mitigate issues through negotiating with suppliers and reallocating tariff responsibilities.

‘The Question Is, What’s Going To Happen Next?’ – The Future For Biosimilars In Europe

 
• By 

With European biosimilars developers buoyed by recent regulatory moves, Medicines for Europe’s Isabell Remus and Julie Maréchal-Jamil discuss the next steps forward for the industry.