Sanofi and Glaxo join the Covid-19 vaccine chase

Another day, another Covid-19 vaccine candidate. Sanofi and Glaxosmithkline have just started a phase I/II trial of their project, an adjuvanted recombinant protein-based vaccine. The timelines appear to have slipped for the asset, which is now due to begin phase III in December – but it could benefit from taking a tried-and-tested approach versus more experimental candidates. Meanwhile, phase I data with Novavax’s nanoparticle vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, published in the NEJM yesterday, confirm results previously reported in a preprint. The idea that a Covid-19 vaccine could get emergency use authorisation soon is gaining momentum, with the CDC reportedly telling US health officials yesterday to prepare for a vaccine by early November. This came after the FDA last week scheduled an advisory committee meeting for October 22 to discuss the general development of Covid-19 vaccines. There are concerns that a fast-track approach could compromise safety in particular, and lead to further public mistrust around vaccines. However, there might soon be enough data to make an informed decision on the more advanced candidates: Moderna has now enrolled 17,500 patients in its phase III trial, and Pfizer’s chief executive, Albert Bourla, said today that data from BNT162b2’s pivotal study will be available next month.