(Reuters) – Drugmaker Pfizer Inc said yesterday it does not yet have data from the late-stage trial of the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Germany’s BioNTech SE , and provided a timeline that makes its release unlikely ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election.
Pfizer said there had not yet been enough infections in the 44,000-volunteer trial to trigger an analysis of whether or not the vaccine works. An independent panel will conduct the first analysis when it reaches 32 infections.
Chief Executive Albert Bourla said after it has enough data for the analysis, it typically takes 5 to 7 days before the company can publicly release the data, meaning it is likely to happen after the election.
U.S. President Donald Trump had said a vaccine could be available before the Nov. 3 election, but in recent weeks his administration has emphasized that one will be ready this year.
Bourla has previously said the company could release data on whether or not the vaccine works as early as this month.
