GSK-Sanofi variant-specific COVID vaccine found effective against Omicron

Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines said, "These positive data show efficacy of our protein-based, bivalent adjuvanted vaccine candidate in an environment of high Omicron variant circulation. Our vaccine candidate has the potential to make an important contribution to public health as the pandemic evolves further. We are looking forward to the discussions with regulatory authorities with the aim of making our vaccine candidate available later this year."

In Stage 2 of the Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial VAT08 of more than 13,000 participants 18 and above years of age, the Sanofi-GSK Beta-containing vaccine candidate demonstrated an efficacy of 64.7% (95% confidence interval [CI, 46.6, 77.2]) against symptomatic COVID-19 and 72% efficacy (95% confidence interval [CI, 45.8, 86.6]) in Omicron-confirmed symptomatic cases (sequencing was performed for 71 cases out of 121 total cases to date).

In previously seropositive populations, the Sanofi-GSK vaccine candidate demonstrates an overall efficacy of 75.1% (95% confidence interval [CI, 56.3, 86.6]) against symptomatic infection, and 93.2% (95% confidence interval [CI, 73.2, 99.2]) in Omicron-confirmed symptomatic cases, according to the sequencing analysis performed to date.

Throughout Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the VAT08 trial (~23,000 participants in total), the Sanofi-GSK vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

In the collaboration between the two companies, Sanofi provides its recombinant antigen and will be the marketing authorization holder. GSK contributes with its pandemic adjuvant, both established vaccine platforms that have proven successful against influenza.