....we would hope that those data mature and continue to get stronger and stronger.

 

Another thought on choice of words. Hoge's words were in answer to a question. While the question may have been expected, it did not sound to me like Hoge was reading from a prepared text. He was speaking extemporaneously in answer to a question.

 

He knows he cannot reveal more effectiveness info than has already been revealed (44% reduction at 9/30/22 read).

 

Yet with an open label trial, they can recalculate the effectiveness percentage after every new entry in a participant's record and with the passage of any amount of time after 9/30/22. I suspect Moderna and MRK recalculate effectiveness no less frequently than at the end of every month. If so, Hoge knew effectiveness at 1/31/23 when he answered the question.

 

The only number the public knows is 44% as of 9/30/22. If a higher effective percentage were not known to Hoge, he should have said, "we hope they get stronger". 

 

Instead, he said "continue to get stronger."

 

Ya gotta get stronger before you can continue to get stronger.

 

IMO, Hoge, buy using the words "continue to" unconsciously told us that stronger than 44% numbers are already in his head.