The clinical trial of Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been paused due to an unexplained illness in a study participant, according to an article published by STAT on Monday night.
Investors and industry-watchers are on heightened alert after AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) had to pause in its clinical trial after a patient in the study developed an illness.
AstraZeneca's AZD1222 and Johnson & Johnson's JNJ-78436735 are both adenovirus-based vaccines, where the genetic material to express the coronavirus proteins are delivered via an adenovirus.
But Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, JNJ-78436735, only requires a single dose, while AstraZeneca's AZD1222 requires two doses to be effective.