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Days after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to codevelop a potential mRNA-based vaccine to help prevent COVID-19. The mRNA platform was selected given its potential for high potency and capacity for rapid development. A bold decision was made to invest in R&D and manufacturing at risk.

Dr. Mikael DolstenDr. Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical at Pfizer.
Dr. Mikael Dolsten

Two candidates, BNT162b1 and BNT162b2, quickly emerged as most promising. After extensive review of preclinical and early clinical data and in consultation with regulators, we advanced BNT162b2 into a global, Phase 2/3 efficacy trial in July 2020.

The study prioritized participant diversity from the beginning, including selecting trial sites in communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19. Enrollment was later expanded to increase diversity, and also to include adolescents 12 and older and people with chronic, stable HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B.

In November 2020, we announced the results of our ongoing Phase 3 study with BNT162b2 demonstrating a vaccine efficacy rate of 95% against COVID-19 beginning 28 days after dose one. This result showed our ability to leverage decades of scientific expertise to execute a rigorous Phase 3 clinical program to make a potential vaccine available as quickly and safely as possible. The emergency use authorization that followed was a big step, but our research did not stop there.

Pfizer and BioNTech continue to evaluate data from the landmark trial, which ultimately enrolled 46,331 participants. We are also conducting trials in special populations, such as pregnant women and children under 12. To date, real-world evidence has demonstrated lower COVID-19 incidence in vaccinated individuals and has not shown escape of variant viruses from BNT162b2-mediated protection. Studies are ongoing to explore the effect of a third dose on immunity and to prepare in case a variant emerges that escapes protection.

We continue to identify improvements to increase production and are on track to deliver approximately 2.5 billion doses in 2021. Next generation ready-to-use and freeze-dried formulations are in development.

This pandemic sparked an unparalleled period of innovation, investment, and partnership with lessons learned that will help us prepare for future pandemics and accelerate R&D of therapeutic candidates for other debilitating and life-threatening conditions.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but has been authorized for emergency use to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 12+. See conditions of use: http://cvdvaccine.com

Dr. Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical at Pfizer. He has no other conflicts. Dr. Dolsten made these comments during the AGA Institute Presidential Plenary at the annual Digestive Disease Week®.

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Days after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to codevelop a potential mRNA-based vaccine to help prevent COVID-19. The mRNA platform was selected given its potential for high potency and capacity for rapid development. A bold decision was made to invest in R&D and manufacturing at risk.

Dr. Mikael DolstenDr. Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical at Pfizer.
Dr. Mikael Dolsten

Two candidates, BNT162b1 and BNT162b2, quickly emerged as most promising. After extensive review of preclinical and early clinical data and in consultation with regulators, we advanced BNT162b2 into a global, Phase 2/3 efficacy trial in July 2020.

The study prioritized participant diversity from the beginning, including selecting trial sites in communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19. Enrollment was later expanded to increase diversity, and also to include adolescents 12 and older and people with chronic, stable HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B.

In November 2020, we announced the results of our ongoing Phase 3 study with BNT162b2 demonstrating a vaccine efficacy rate of 95% against COVID-19 beginning 28 days after dose one. This result showed our ability to leverage decades of scientific expertise to execute a rigorous Phase 3 clinical program to make a potential vaccine available as quickly and safely as possible. The emergency use authorization that followed was a big step, but our research did not stop there.

Pfizer and BioNTech continue to evaluate data from the landmark trial, which ultimately enrolled 46,331 participants. We are also conducting trials in special populations, such as pregnant women and children under 12. To date, real-world evidence has demonstrated lower COVID-19 incidence in vaccinated individuals and has not shown escape of variant viruses from BNT162b2-mediated protection. Studies are ongoing to explore the effect of a third dose on immunity and to prepare in case a variant emerges that escapes protection.

We continue to identify improvements to increase production and are on track to deliver approximately 2.5 billion doses in 2021. Next generation ready-to-use and freeze-dried formulations are in development.

This pandemic sparked an unparalleled period of innovation, investment, and partnership with lessons learned that will help us prepare for future pandemics and accelerate R&D of therapeutic candidates for other debilitating and life-threatening conditions.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but has been authorized for emergency use to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 12+. See conditions of use: http://cvdvaccine.com

Dr. Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical at Pfizer. He has no other conflicts. Dr. Dolsten made these comments during the AGA Institute Presidential Plenary at the annual Digestive Disease Week®.

Days after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, Pfizer and BioNTech announced plans to codevelop a potential mRNA-based vaccine to help prevent COVID-19. The mRNA platform was selected given its potential for high potency and capacity for rapid development. A bold decision was made to invest in R&D and manufacturing at risk.

Dr. Mikael DolstenDr. Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical at Pfizer.
Dr. Mikael Dolsten

Two candidates, BNT162b1 and BNT162b2, quickly emerged as most promising. After extensive review of preclinical and early clinical data and in consultation with regulators, we advanced BNT162b2 into a global, Phase 2/3 efficacy trial in July 2020.

The study prioritized participant diversity from the beginning, including selecting trial sites in communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19. Enrollment was later expanded to increase diversity, and also to include adolescents 12 and older and people with chronic, stable HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B.

In November 2020, we announced the results of our ongoing Phase 3 study with BNT162b2 demonstrating a vaccine efficacy rate of 95% against COVID-19 beginning 28 days after dose one. This result showed our ability to leverage decades of scientific expertise to execute a rigorous Phase 3 clinical program to make a potential vaccine available as quickly and safely as possible. The emergency use authorization that followed was a big step, but our research did not stop there.

Pfizer and BioNTech continue to evaluate data from the landmark trial, which ultimately enrolled 46,331 participants. We are also conducting trials in special populations, such as pregnant women and children under 12. To date, real-world evidence has demonstrated lower COVID-19 incidence in vaccinated individuals and has not shown escape of variant viruses from BNT162b2-mediated protection. Studies are ongoing to explore the effect of a third dose on immunity and to prepare in case a variant emerges that escapes protection.

We continue to identify improvements to increase production and are on track to deliver approximately 2.5 billion doses in 2021. Next generation ready-to-use and freeze-dried formulations are in development.

This pandemic sparked an unparalleled period of innovation, investment, and partnership with lessons learned that will help us prepare for future pandemics and accelerate R&D of therapeutic candidates for other debilitating and life-threatening conditions.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but has been authorized for emergency use to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 12+. See conditions of use: http://cvdvaccine.com

Dr. Dolsten is the Chief Scientific Officer and President of Worldwide Research, Development and Medical at Pfizer. He has no other conflicts. Dr. Dolsten made these comments during the AGA Institute Presidential Plenary at the annual Digestive Disease Week®.

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