Comparator vaccines are needed if vital COVID-19 R&D is to progress

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and despite significant success in developing and launching COVID-19 vaccines, a major hurdle stands in the way of developing new vaccines and running studies to determine the best way to use them, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) warns in a letter published on its website today.

Melanie Saville, the CEPI’s director of vaccine research and development, says: “We’ve made huge progress in the development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines that are now saving lives. But the pandemic is far from over: developing the ‘next generation’ of vaccines now will reduce inequity by increasing global supply, and meet the challenge of variants.

“We can only do this if ‘comparator vaccines’ – COVID-19 vaccines which have already been approved – are available to support clinical trials.