Seen purely from a clock time perspective, Pfizer's dash to the finish line has broken all vaccine development speed records, and on a totally new technology platform called mRNA - which has no benchmarks yet.
The coronavirus itself isn't there inside the mRNA vaccine. Instead, it is embedded with a piece of genetic code that trains our bodies to recognize imminent enemy action from the spike protein on the surface of the virus. When the mRNA enters our cells, it begins to spew copies of the coronavirus' spike protein. That prompts the immune system to churn out antibodies against the virus. In virology, generating neutralising antibodies is a good surrogate of our bodies' ability to protect from sickness.
Below is a timeline of Pfizer's run up to this historic moment:
March 17: Pfizer and BioNTech announce plans to develop a Covid-19 vaccine using BioNTech's technology platform.
April 29: Testing of four vaccine candidates begins with volunteers in Germany. Five other countries are part of the testing pool.
May 5: Testing expands to include the US.
July 1: One of four vaccine candidates appears to rev up the immune system, is well tolerated.
July 22: Trump administration agrees to buy 100 million vaccine doses, with an option for 500 million more.
July 27: Late-stage testing begins for 30,000 volunteers.
September 8: CEOs of 9 pharma giants, including Pfizer and BioNTech, pledge they will not be rushed by politics or extraneous factors.
November 8: Pfizer receives data from independent trial monitors who analyse test results.
November 9: Pfizer announces the vaccine appears to be about 90 percent effective, based on 94 infections in a pool of more than 43,000 volunteers.
November 18: Pfizer and BioNTech release a second batch of interim results saying their two-dose coronavirus vaccine candidate is 95 percent effective and also protects the most vulnerable people in older age groups from the risk of dying from the virus.
Nov 20: Pfizer announces intent to submit application to US regulators for emergency use authorisation.
Read also: Govt mulls strategy to procure Pfizer Covid vaccine despite cold storage challenges
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.