Coronavirus vaccine from Moderna shows early signs of viral immune response

NEW YORK : An experimental vaccine from Moderna Inc. showed promising early signs that it can create an immune-system response in the body that could help fend off the new coronavirus, according to sampling of data from a small, first human trial of the inoculation.

The study was primarily designed to look at the safety of the shot and showed no major warning signs in a small phase 1 trial, the company said in a statement Monday. The trial is being run with the US government, and Moderna plans to continue advancing it to wider testing.

A vaccine is considered a crucial step toward lifting social-distancing measures and safely reopening economies, schools and events around the globe. The new coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, has infected more than 4.7 million people and killed over 300,000, spurring a global race by drugmakers, academic institutions and governments to find a vaccine

“This is a very good sign that we make an antibody that can stop the virus from replicating," Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel said in an interview. The data “couldn’t have been better," he said.