AstraZeneca say UK researchers should know by July if coronavirus vaccine is effective

The UK researchers will know by July whether its coronavirus vaccine is effective, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said on Thursday.

AstraZeneca is partnering with Oxford University to help develop and distribute the vaccine, which is being researched by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group.

Under the partnership agreement, the company would be in charge of the worldwide manufacturing and supply of Oxford’s vaccine, which entered phase one clinical trials last week.

AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot told BBC Radio 4′s “Today” show that the company would determine within months whether the coronavirus vaccine was effective.

“By June, July we will already have a very good idea of the direction of travel in terms of its potential efficacy,” Soriot said.