Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline’s potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate has succeeded in triggering strong immune responses in all adult age groups in its phase 2 trials, raising hopes the shot will be rolled out for use by the end of this year.
After two doses of the vaccine candidate, participants showed neutralizing antibodies in line with those found in people who had recovered from the disease, according to a press note issued by the two companies on Monday.
The drugmakers said they plan to begin third stage trials and production in the coming weeks and hope to win regulatory approval for the vaccine before the end of 2021.
Regulators have already authorized a number of COVID-19 vaccines, bit there is still an acute shortage worldwide as the coronavirus pandemic rages on relentlessly leaving a trail of unprecedented death and suffering in its wake.
The Sanofi and GSK adjuvanted recombinant COVID-19 vaccine candidate elicited strong neutralizing antibody levels that were comparable to those generated by natural infection, with higher levels observed in younger adults (18 to 59 years old), the statement said. The Phase 2 study was carried out in all adult age groups with 722 volunteers.
“Our Phase 2 data confirm the potential of this vaccine to play a role in addressing this ongoing global public health crisis, as we know multiple vaccines will be needed, especially as variants continue to emerge and the need for effective and booster vaccines, which can be stored at normal temperatures, increases”, said Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Sanofi Pasteur.
“With these favourable results, we are set to progress to a global Phase 3 efficacy study. We look forward to additional data and working with our partners around the world to make our vaccine available as quickly as possible,” he added.
Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines said, “These positive data show the potential of this protein-based adjuvanted vaccine candidate in the broader context of the pandemic, including the need to address variants and to provide for booster doses. We believe that this vaccine candidate can make a significant contribution to the ongoing fight against COVID-19 and will move to Phase 3 as soon as possible to meet our goal of making it available before the end of the year.”
