Sanofi-GSK Covid-19 Vaccine Delayed After Trials Show Poor Immune Response In Elderly

Topline

European pharma heavyweights Sanofi and GSK announced Friday that their experimental Covid-19 vaccine will be delayed until late 2021, following a disappointing set of results from early stage clinical trials that showed a poor immune response in older adults. 

Key Facts

Key Background

Though there have been a number of big vaccine success stories in recent weeks, including the approval of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine for emergency use in the U.K. and Canada, this announcement will come as a big blow to the global fight against Covid-19. Sanofi and GSK are major players in the vaccine business — developing the Covid-19 vaccine off the back of their work on the flu — and their candidate was considered one of the most promising in development that also happened to be stable at higher temperatures and rely on tried and tested technology. Even if other vaccines are approved, supplies will be short, making it essential that multiple vaccines are on the market. Sanofi and GSK were expected to be a major supplier, with arrangements in place for hundreds of millions of doses in the U.S., the EU, and the U.K..  

Crucial Quote

The news of the delay comes as a blow in spite of recent successes, something both executives recognize. “It is… clear that multiple vaccines will be needed to contain the pandemic,” Connor said. Triomphe concurred: “No single pharma company can make it alone; the world needs more than one vaccine to fight the pandemic” Triomphe said. 

Further Reading

GSK And Sanofi Pledge 200 Million Vaccine Doses To Covid-19 Alliance (Forbes)

Trump Has ‘Small,’ ‘Distant Link’ To Sanofi, French Drugmaker Of Hydroxychloroquine (Forbes)

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