Sanofi drops plans for mRNA Covid-19 vaccine amid BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna success
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Paris: Sanofi is dropping plans for its own mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine because of the dominant role of the BioNTech-Pfizer alliance as well as Moderna in the fight against the pandemic, the company said on Tuesday.
The move highlights the challenges of competing in particular with pioneer BioNTech, which rose from obscurity through its alliance with pharma major Pfizer last year. The pair have delivered close to 1.5 billion doses so far, making them the western world's largest Covid-19 vaccine maker.
French healthcare group Sanofi will instead focus on efforts with British partner GlaxoSmithKline to bring another Covid-19 vaccine candidate to market based on the more conventional protein-based approach, where mass trials are ongoing.
The decision to drop clinical development of the mRNA shot, acquired as part of its takeover of Translate Bio, came despite positive Phase I/II study interim results announced on Tuesday where participants' blood readings showed a strong immune reaction.
Under the more traditional protein-based vaccine approach that Sanofi will now focus on, the antigen is bioengineered in labs and combined with an efficacy booster known as adjuvant, provided by GSK.
Sanofi executive Thomas Triomphe told journalists in a briefing that the EU and Britain had ordered 75 million doses of this vaccine, banking on future regulatory approval.
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