Johnson & Johnson 's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine will face a crucial review Friday from an expert panel convened by theFDA .- The meeting, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET to 5:30 p.m. ET, is expected to ultimately put J&J's shot one step closer to a regulatory OK.
- The FDA is live-streaming the all-day meeting $4.
Johnson & Johnson's single-dose
US Food and Drug Administration regulators released their own summary of J&J's data on Wednesday, $4. Friday's panel is widely expected to recommend that FDA OK the shot, which could allow regulators to take action in the coming days or week.
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J&J has emphasized its vaccine's ability to prevent the worst outcomes of COVID-19. Starting two weeks after receiving an injection in the study, 31 people were hospitalized with COVID-19: 29 had received the placebo shot and just two had gotten J&J's vaccine. The study also tallied seven deaths from COVID-19 - all in the placebo group.
J&J has said it will have nearly 4 million doses ready to ship upon emergency authorization and is on track to deliver 100 million doses to the US by the end of June. Beyond the much-needed supply bump, public-health experts are eager to roll out the vaccine for its simplicity: it's a single-dose vaccination that can be stored at typical refrigerator temperatures for several months.
The committee meeting is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, and will end with an advisory vote on whether FDA should issue an emergency-use authorization. FDA isn't required to follow the panel's advice. An EUA would likely allow the shot to be given widely to people 18 and older. $4