Pascal Soirot says firm has ‘winning formula’ to improve Oxford jab’s efficacy, as countries across Europe roll out vaccination programs

The head of the firm behind the Oxford Covid vaccine has said researchers believe the jab will be effective against the variant strain of the virus that was first found in the UK.

AstraZeneca chief executive, Pascal Soriot, told the Sunday Times more tests were needed to be sure, but hailed the discovery of what he called a “winning formula” to improve the vaccine’s efficacy.

As Spain, Sweden and Canada joined the growing list of countries to have reported cases of the more contagious variant, Soirot said: “So far, we think the vaccine should remain effective. But we can’t be sure, so we’re going to test that.”

With scientists urging a national lockdown to contain the virus, the government has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, with around 40 million to be available by the end of March.

The Sunday Telegraph has reported that the vaccine could be rolled out en masse from 4 January, although a government spokesperson said in response that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency must be given time to carry out its work.

“The medicines regulator is reviewing the final data from the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca phase three clinical trials to determine whether the vaccine meets their strict standards of quality, safety and effectiveness,” the spokesperson said.

“We must now give the MHRA the time to carry out its important work and we must wait for its advice.”

There have been some concerns the Oxford vaccine may not be as good as preventing symptomatic disease as the other vaccines such as the one by Pfizer already being distributed.

Soriot said: “We think we have figured out the winning formula and how to get efficacy that, after two doses, is up there with everybody else.

“I can’t tell you more because we will publish at some point.”

Of the figures already released showing up to 90% effectiveness in those given a half dose followed by a full dose, he told the Sunday Times: “We would have preferred a simpler set of results, but overall we thought these are positive, they meet the criteria established by regulators around the world.”

“We assumed people would be a bit disappointed, that’s for sure,” he went on.

“But we didn’t expect that storm.”

AstraZeneca’s publication of the unexpected results, and the temporary halting of its trials, reportedly caused concern at the US Food and Drug Administration, which approves vaccines.