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So according to In The Pipeline[1] they essentially modified their existing MERS vaccine so that it worked for SARS-COV-2. Their original vaccine had already gone through phase 1 trials and had shown efficacy and no harmful side effects.

[1] https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2020/04/23/a-...

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Derek Lowe is terrific in communicating complex ideas in the field to concerned lay observers like me; he's been a great resource for reliable information about the science of this thing.

Just to clarify; the ChAdOx1 MERS prospect hasn't proceeded to a trial demonstrating efficacy in human subjects (as yet).

That's a particularly important distinction here, given the nature of the novel delivery mechanism[1] and prior observation of complications in SARS-CoV-1 vaccine development[2]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_vector#Adenoviruses

[2] https://www.hkmj.org/abstracts/v22n3%20Suppl%204/25.htm

> Just to clarify; the ChAdOx1 MERS prospect hasn't proceeded to a trial...

Looks like it has (for SARS-CoV-2 instead): https://www.genengnews.com/news/astrazeneca-joins-u-of-oxfor...

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