Johnson & Johnson has begun the final stage of clinical trials for their coronavirus vaccine candidate. They are the fourth company to begin Phase 3 testing of a potential vaccine, joining Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech, and AstraZeneca.
Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is different than the other three, as it only requires a single dose. The other vaccines require two doses administered a few weeks apart. Another advantage of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is that it does not need to be refrigerated at sub-zero temperatures, making it easier to store and transport around the country.
The clinical trial will be the largest to date, with over 60,000 adult participants.
"Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the United States just over eight months after SARS-CoV-2 was identified," Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a statement.
"This is an unprecedented feat for the scientific community made possible by decades of progress in vaccine technology and a coordinated, strategic approach across government, industry, and academia," he said. "It is likely that multiple COVID-19 vaccine regimens will be required to meet the global need. The Janssen candidate has showed promise in early-stage testing and may be especially useful in controlling the pandemic if shown to be protective after a single dose."
Johnson & Johnson is also working on a vaccine that requires two doses and is planning to run a Phase 3 clinical trial in the United Kingdom.
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