AstraZeneca Phase III trial halted over suspected serious vaccine reaction

On September 8, 2020, Oxford/AstraZeneca (A/Z) “voluntarily” halted their COVID-19 vaccine Phase III clinical trial after a previously health, UK trial participant, came down with an unexplained suspected vaccine reaction. [1]

The following day A/Z CEO announced the female trial participant had experienced neurological symptoms consistent with a rare but serious spinal inflammatory disorder called transverse myelitis, that can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, pain and bladder problems.

It was only a week earlier, on August 31, 2020 that the US began the AstraZeneca Phase III trials. [2]

On October 26, 2020 AstraZeneca resumed their US Phase III trials after an “independent safety board reviewed the incident and determined the participant’s illness was unrelated to AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine candidate”, though in the UK they resumed earlier on September 15th.