Two Large Scale Trials Begin as Race for COVID-19 Vaccine Heats Up

Moderna and Pfizer have both begun large-scale clinical trials with 30,000 participants on their respective vaccines, with the hopes of obtaining regulatory approval and widespread distribution by the end of 2020. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are both based on synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA), a new technology that helps the body’s own immune system identify and then combat the novel coronavirus by copying its surface. With support from the federal government, both companies hope to have tens of millions of doses ready once safety and effectiveness are demonstrated. More than 150 vaccines for COVID-19 are currently in development. Read more here.