PARIS: French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi and Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) reported on Monday “strong immune responses” in early tests of their coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine, raising hopes it could join the fight against the pandemic. “A global pivotal Phase 3 study is expected to start in the coming weeks.”An earlier study in late 2020 showed the vaccine provided a low immune response in older adults. The companies said the vaccine would not be ready until the end of 2021. “Our Phase 2 data confirm the potential of this vaccine to play a role in addressing this ongoing global public health crisis,” said Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president and global head of Sanofi Pasteur. The firms are combining a Sanofi-developed antigen, which stimulates the production of germ-killing antibodies, with GSK’s adjuvant technology, a substance that bolsters the immune response triggered by a vaccine.

Source: Manila Times May 17, 2021 08:03 UTC