The much awaited results of the Covid vaccine trials were published yesterday in the Lancet medical journal. And the news is good – the vaccine was safe and produced an immune response in the early stage clinical trials.

Known as ‘AZD1222,’ being developed by AstraZeneca and scientists at Britain's Oxford University, did not prompt any serious side effects and elicited antibody and T-cell immune responses.

More research is needed to establish the longevity of efficacy of the vaccine.

AstraZeneca has signed agreements with governments around the world to supply the vaccine should it prove effective and gain regulatory approval.

In India, Pune based Serum Institute of India, one of Astra Zeneca's partners in the search for the vaccine and will potentially be responsible for the mass manufacture of the final product.

The stock is galloping today, opening 7% at Rs.3602, its intraday high point of the day. Its 52-week high is at Rs.3700.