(Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Tuesday it has signed a letter of intent with French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi SA to collaborate on the development of an adjuvanted vaccine for Covid-19.
Under the partnership, Glaxo will provide its pandemic adjuvant technology, which can be used in a pandemic situation to reduce the amount of vaccine protein required per dose, allowing more doses to be produced.
Sanofi meanwhile will put forward its S-protein Covid-19 antigen, based on recombinant DNA technology. This has produced an exact genetic match to proteins found on the surface of the virus.
Both firms plan to start phase one clinical trials in the second half of 2020, and if successful, will look to complete development required for availability by the second half of 2021.
Both companies have entered a material transfer agreement allowing them to work together immediately, while definitive terms of the collaboration are set to be finalised over the next few weeks.
"This collaboration brings two of the world's largest vaccines companies together. By combining our science and our technologies, we believe we can help accelerate the global effort to develop a vaccine to protect as many people as possible from Covid-19," said Glaxo Chief Executive Officer Emma Walmsley.
Shares in GlaxoSmithKline were up 1.8% at 1,572.20 pence on Tuesday in London, while Sanofi shares in Paris were 2.6% higher at EUR84.16.
By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com
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