Shot in the arm for Glaxo as trials of firm’s new Covid-19 booster vaccine show encouraging results
GlaxoSmithKline received a dose of good news after its Covid-19 booster vaccine developed alongside French group Sanofi generated a strong immune system response in clinical trials.
The two firms are major vaccine makers but fell behind in the race to develop a Covid-19 jab.
However, Sanofi said data from two trials showed the jab provided a ‘significant boost’ in antibodies against several variants of the virus in patients who had previously received mRNA vaccines such as those made by US rivals Pfizer and Moderna.
On point: GlaxoSmithKline has teamed up with French group Sanofi after falling behind in the race to develop Covid vaccines
The French firm added that the jab provided a higher immune system response than a Pfizer booster and also demonstrated potential to protect against the Omicron variant.
‘Covid-19 keeps evolving and the combination of emergence of variants and waning immunity is likely to lead to the need for additional booster shots,’ said Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president of Sanofi’s vaccine division.
‘We believe this next-generation booster could have an important role to play for public health vaccination campaigns.’
Investors remained unimpressed, however, and GSK shares closed flat at 1736p.