The U.S. Division of Well being doubts AstraZeneca’s vaccine knowledge

A nurse makes syringes with the preparation of Astrazeneca in Axel Stelzner’s family doctor’s practice.

Hendrik Schmidt | Image alliance via Getty Images

LONDON – A US health agency on Tuesday expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included out of date information from a clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine, which may cast doubt on the published efficacy results.

The Data Safety Monitoring Board “was concerned that AstraZeneca may have included out of date information from this study that may provide an incomplete view of the efficacy data,” the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in a statement.

“We urge the company to work with the DSMB to review efficacy data and ensure that the most accurate and up-to-date efficacy data is released as soon as possible.”

The NIAID is led by the White House Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anthony Fauci, directs and is part of the National Institutes of Health.

AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

The statement comes just a day after the results of a large U.S. study showed that the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University is 79% effective against symptomatic illness and 100% effective against serious illness and hospitalization.

Data from the late-stage human study again confirmed that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and highly effective. The results were welcomed as “good news for the world community”.

The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine had been temporarily suspended in several countries after blood clots were reported in some people who had been vaccinated. However, AstraZeneca said Monday that the independent DSMB had not found an increased risk of blood clots.