Clinical trials of the AstraZeneca vaccine are still in progress.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
Swiss drug authority Swissmedic has begun evaluating the so-called “Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca”. It is the first time that a drugmaker has presented a coronavirus vaccine for approval in Switzerland.
AstraZeneca, which developed the vaccine in collaboration with the University of Oxford, submitted its application to Swissmedic at the start of this month.
The vaccine’s scientific evaluation will be done via a “rolling submission” process. This allows a pharmaceutical company to launch the application procedure before a product’s development is complete.
This “enables Swissmedic to carry out the scientific assessment of non-clinical data from laboratory tests while clinical trials are still in progress,” announced Swissmedic in a statement on Tuesday, noting that trial results must be submitted for scientific review as they become available over the next weeks and months.
More
More
Half of Swiss would get vaccinated against Covid-19
This content was published on
If there were an efficient vaccination against coronavirus, every second person in Switzerland would take it, says a survey.
“However, no decision on authorisation can be taken until all the data needed to assess the safety, quality and efficacy of the vaccine have been submitted. The documentation must demonstrate how safe and effective the vaccine is in protecting humans against the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus,” wrote the Swiss drug authority.
Swissmedic noted that while it is reviewing the vaccine independently, it is also working closely with partner authorities abroad. No medicinal product can go onto the Swiss market without Swissmedic’s approval.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss town rejects surveillance cameras at train station
This content was published on
Vevey does not want the station area to be monitored by cameras. In a vote held on Sunday, the population rejected a plan to install 44 cameras in the area in order to combat street dealing.
Palestine demo broken up at Israel-Switzerland basketball match
This content was published on
Around 150 pro-Palestine activists tried to force their way into Switzerland's match against Israel at the U-19 World Cup in Lausanne.
Swiss foreign minister: ‘EU was only given what was necessary’
This content was published on
After negotiating hard on the package deal with the European Union and finding a balance, Switzerland gave the EU only what was needed, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Saturday.
Passenger dies in helicopter crash on Swiss glacier
This content was published on
A helicopter crashed in the Fusshörner region on the Oberaletsch Glacier in canton Valais on Saturday afternoon. The passenger in the helicopter, which was carrying three people, died.
Abbot of Saint-Maurice steps down following sex abuse report
This content was published on
Jean Scarcella has decided to step down as Abbot of Saint-Maurice in the Swiss canton of Valais, the abbey announced on Saturday.
Philipp Matthias Bregy named new president of Centre Party
This content was published on
Valais National Councillor Philipp Matthias Bregy is the new President of the Centre Party. The delegates elected him as the successor to Gerhard Pfister on Saturday in Bern without discussion.
Global call for active neutrality launched from Geneva
This content was published on
A number of players have launched a worldwide appeal for active neutrality in Geneva at a time when the major powers are taking a tougher line. The city is competing with Vienna to attract an international congress on this issue in 2026.
Switzerland pre-orders 4.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine
This content was published on
The Swiss government has signed a deal with US biotech firm Moderna to secure early access to 4.5 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine currently in development.
Switzerland fast-tracks antiviral medication against Covid-19
This content was published on
Swissmedic, the agency that oversees the use of medicaments in Switzerland, took days to fast-track approval of the drug, which is produced under the brand name Veklury by US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. The application for its extended use was only received on Monday. It can now be used for a limited period of time to…
Join the conversation!