A Covid-19 vaccine developed by Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi has failed to give sufficient immunity response in clinical trials.
The two companies plan to start again in the New Year to develop a more effective vaccine.
The latest trials revealed a good response to the jab in adults aged 18 to 49 years.
But there was a low immune response in older adults.
Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Pasteur, said:
“We care greatly about public health which is why we are disappointed by the delay announced today, but all our decisions are and will always be driven by science and data.
“We have identified the path forward and remain confident and committed to bringing a safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccine.
“Following these results and the latest encouraging new preclinical data, we will now work to further optimize our candidate to achieve this goal.
“No single pharma company can make it alone; the world needs more than one vaccine to fight the pandemic.”
Roger Connor, President of GSK Vaccines, said:
“The results of the study are not as we hoped.
“It is also clear that multiple vaccines will be needed to contain the pandemic.
“Our aim now is to work closely with our partner Sanofi to develop this vaccine, with an improved antigen formulation, for it to make a meaningful contribution to preventing COVID-19.”
