Covid-19: Sanofi gives up its messenger RNA vaccine despite encouraging results

Sanofi throws in the towel. Despite convincing effectiveness during the first phases of clinical trials (1 and 2), the French laboratory has decided not to continue developing its messenger RNA vaccine against Covid-19. The intermediate results however demonstrated a seroconversion, that is to say the manufacture of antibodies, in 91% to 100% of the participants, two weeks after the second injection, the firm said in a press release published on Tuesday. In addition, no side effects were observed and the safety profile is comparable to that of other Covid-19 vaccines using the same technology.

But then why give up so close to the goal? The French company estimated that this vaccine would arrive too late on the market, while 12 billion doses of anti-Covid vaccines will have been produced by the end of the year. “The need is not to create new Covid-19 RNA vaccines, but to equip France and Europe with an arsenal of messenger RNA vaccines for a next pandemic, for new pathologies”, stressed to AFP Thomas Triomphe, vice-president of the vaccines branch of Sanofi.

In spite of everything, all the investments made and the research carried out will not be wasted. Sanofi intends to position itself in the market for this new technology and hopes to rapidly develop other messenger RNA vaccines against other viruses. The group has already launched initial trials for a monovalent vaccine – with a single strain of virus – against seasonal influenza. A quadrivalent vaccine is also in the pipeline. “Our goal is to unleash the potential of messenger RNA in other strategic areas, such as immunology, oncology”, that is to say the treatment of cancers, “and rare diseases, in addition to vaccines”, explained a few weeks ago Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi.

In addition, the French pharmaceutical giant – which recently announced the takeover of the American biotech Translate Bio – will continue the development of its second vaccine against Covid-19. The latter, developed with the British GSK, is based on a recombinant protein. The results of phase 3 of the trials are expected before the end of 2021. If they prove conclusive, the vaccine can be marketed immediately.