Icosavax's COVID-19 shot fails to deliver in early data, spurring debate about 'fatal flaw' in platform

Early underwhelming data from Icosavax's COVID-19 vaccine has sent investors sprinting towards the exits, bringing into question whether the biotech's entire platform has a "fatal flaw."

The immune response achieved with the two-dose shot, known as IVX-411, was “below our expectations”, according to Chief Medical Officer Niranjan Kanesa-thasan, M.D. The company said the shot induced a response that was “comparable to or below” the placebo, in preliminary results announced Friday.