Novavax Inc said Thursday its novel coronavirus vaccine was 89.3% effective in preventing COVID-19 in a trial conducted in the United Kingdom, and was nearly as effective in protecting against the more highly contagious variant first discovered in the country, according to a preliminary analysis.
A mid-stage trial of the vaccine in South Africa, where a potent variant of the virus is common, showed 60% effectiveness among people who did not have HIV.
Novavax shares rose 26% in after hours trading following the report, which comes on the day the United States reported its first cases of the South African variant.