: AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine heads to late-stage study

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AstraZeneca PLC AZN, +0.55% said late Monday its COVID-19 vaccine candidate advanced into late-stage U.S. clinical trials to gauge its effectiveness.

AstraZeneca said the Phase III trial is seeking up to 30,000 participants to test the vaccine, designated as AZD1222. Participants will either receive two doses of AZD1222 or a saline placebo four weeks apart.

In July, AstraZeneca said an early-to-mid-stage study showed the vaccine was “well tolerated and generated robust immune responses” against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

U.S.-traded shares of AstraZeneca rose 0.2% after hours, following a 0.6% rise to close the regular session at $56.00.