Paris:
French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi and Britain’s GSK reported on Monday “strong immune responses” in early tests of their Covid-19 vaccine, raising hopes it could join the fight against the pandemic.
The providers stated the benefits of the Phase 2 study will allow them to move to a late-stage trial in the coming weeks — a reversal of fortune right after their study was dealt a setback late last year.
The experimental vaccine “achieved strong rates of neutralizing antibody responses, in line with those measured in people who have recovered from COVID-19, in all adult age groups in a Phase 2 study with 722 volunteers,” it stated in a statement.
“A global pivotal Phase 3 study is expected to start in the coming weeks.”
An earlier study in late 2020 showed the vaccine offered a low immune response in older adults. The providers stated the vaccine would not be prepared till the finish of 2021.
The initial failure was a setback that dented French pride as France is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council not to have its personal vaccine right after successes for Britain, China, Russia and the United States.
“Our Phase 2 data confirm the potential of this vaccine to play a role in addressing this ongoing global public health crisis,” stated Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president and international head of Sanofi Pasteur.
“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,” he stated.
The firms are combining a Sanofi-created antigen, which stimulates the production of germ-killing antibodies, with GSK’s adjuvant technologies, a substance that bolsters the immune response triggered by a vaccine.
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