Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine Uses Method 'Developed Largely' By University Of Pennsylvania Researchers, Doctor Says
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The news from biotech company Moderna is raising more hope that a coronavirus vaccine will soon be available. The company says its vaccine is 94.5% effective in Phase 3 trials.
Moderna's vaccine uses a technique called "messenger RNA," which stimulates the body to create an immune response.
Researchers at Penn have been working on that technology for two decades. They say this breakthrough is exciting news.
"It seems to have remarkable effectiveness, at least in the early data that we've been able to see. This idea of using messenger RNA to make a vaccine was developed largely by Drew Weissman and his colleagues at Penn," said Dr. Jonathan A. Epstein with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Moderna expects some doses to be available to high-risk individuals by the end of the year. Widespread distributions could begin by next spring.
Pfizer also announced a similar experimental vaccine is showing 90% effectiveness.
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