Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said Friday that its one-dose coronavirus vaccine was 66% effective overall in protecting against COVID-19. The vaccine, however, appeared to be less potent against other variants.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has indicated it would authorize a vaccine that’s safe and at least 50% effective. The flu vaccine, by comparison, generally reduces people’s risk of getting influenza by 40% to 60% compared with people who aren’t inoculated, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The level of protection varied by region, J&J said, with the vaccine demonstrating 66% effectiveness overall, 72% in the United States, 66% in Latin America and 57% in South Africa after four weeks.
J&J said the vaccine was 85% effective in preventing severe disease four weeks after vaccination in all adults. The vaccine offered complete protection against COVID-related hospitalizations four weeks after vaccination, the company said.
"We’re proud to have reached this critical milestone and our commitment to address this global health crisis continues with urgency for everyone, everywhere," J&J CEO Alex Gorsky said in a statement.
Shares of J&J were down more than 3% in pre-market trading following the announcement.
They opened Friday lower $5.82, or 3.4%, to $163.34.
The highly anticipated results were based on 468 confirmed COVID-19 infections among the phase three trial’s more than 43,000 volunteers, according to J&J. The company said the trial includes those infected with B.1.351, the new, highly contagious strain found in South Africa.
