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PARIS, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Sanofi on Tuesday
announced positive interim results from its early-stage study
for the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate it is developing
with Translate Bio, a boost for the French drug company
after delays with its other shot.
Sanofi said initial data Phase I/II from these results
showed neutralising antibody seroconversion in 91%-100% of study
participants, two weeks after a second injection, across all
three dosages tested.
"These results will clearly help inform the path forward for
our mRNA development programs," said Jean-Francois Toussaint,
global head of research and development at Sanofi Pasteur.
No safety concerns were observed and the tolerability
profile is comparable to that of other unmodified mRNA COVID-19
vaccines, the company said. Further data will be presented at a
later date.
It did not say if these results will pave the way for the
launch of late-stage human trials to test the shot's efficacy,
which, if positive, would be the final step before applying for
regulatory approval.
Sanofi is under pressure to revive its drug pipeline and
eager to overcome setbacks in the COVID-19 vaccine race. It said
these results showed the potential behind the Translate Bio
company it recently acquired.
The company is also testing a potential COVID-19 vaccine
developed with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, but the
progress of that shot was delayed after disappointing early
results late last year.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Josephine Mason;
editing by Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)