Oxford university, AstraZeneca partner over coronavirus vaccine

British pharmaceuticals group AstraZeneca has partnered with the University of Oxford to develop and distribute a coronavirus vaccine being trialled in the UK, the pair announced Thursday.

Human trials of the vaccine developed by the university's Jenner Institute began last week, with hundreds of people volunteering to be part of the study that has received £20 million ($24.7 million, 22.6 million euros) in government funding.

"The collaboration aims to bring to patients the potential vaccine known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, being developed by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, at the University of Oxford," said a joint statement.

"Under the agreement, AstraZeneca would be responsible for development and worldwide manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine."

Data from the first phase trial could be available next month, the statement said.

"Advancement to late-stage trials should take place by the middle of this year," it added.

The news comes after US scientists hailed the results of a major drug trial. People treated with Remdesivir recovered about 30 percent faster than those on a placebo.

© 2020 AFP