True, anything can happen.The scenario, fast track approval is...

True, anything can happen.

The scenario, fast track approval is part of the "Bob is ur uncle" scenario but the result have to be VERY decissivly significant. In that case, maybe not Phase 2b, but there will still have to be a phase 3/4, as big number of patients is needed to see efficacy accross a number of different factors, ethnicity is usually a standard factor then and also to increase number of patients in (e.g. age, disease stage etc) subgroups to have meaningful statistics.

IMM happened to enter the race not too late and at this stage and hence finding patients for the trial may not be too difficult.

Another advantage is that vaccines will need the test of time to prove their long term safety and hence a treatment option may be the preferred choice, .... and if post-treatment the auto-immune system is established, then that can be your vaccine too!!! But we do not know enough about this virus ... so, all speculation on my behalf.