Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline Plc have resumed trials for their joint COVID-19 vaccine candidate. After being faced with setbacks during their previous trials in the fall, these pharmaceutical manufacturers have improved their shot’s formulation. According to a statement on Monday, this was done to improve effectiveness in people 50 years and older.
The vaccine partners’ second-phase trial, which is set to include 720 adults in the U.S., Honduras, and Panama, should be completed shortly. If successful, late-phase trials will be expected to begin in the second quarter, with the final vaccine becoming available by the end of this year.
In addition to its own vaccine development, Sanofi agreed to offer its manufacturing plant in France to Johnson & Johnson for the production of 12 million doses of that company’s COVID vaccine.
To date, both GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi have faced stark criticism for their failure to take charge in the race to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, biotech firms such as Moderna Inc. and BioNTech SE have achieved far greater success, managing to develop an effective shot in less than a year following the coronavirus outbreak.
Sanofi has insisted that it is working as hard as possible to complete the development of its COVID vaccine. This vaccine is expected to be more easily shipped and stored, especially since most other shots have to be frozen.
