After falling behind its competitors, Sanofi announced Monday to launch a new phase 2 clinical trial for a vaccine against Covid-19.
Internally, we ensure that the results are promising.
Results are expected in the second quarter and Sanofi hopes to be able to deliver its vaccine by the end of the year.
After a first failure last fall, Sanofi announced Monday the start of a new phase 2 clinical trial. It is an essential step to hope to be able to find a vaccine, because Sanofi must prove that it is effective.
In a few months, the French laboratory revised its copy and noted a problem with the concentration of the doses, which made them not very protective on the elderly.
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First results expected in May
This time, internally, we are convinced that the results will be excellent.
They are expected in the second quarter.
At Sanofi, we even talk about the month of May.
If the tests are conclusive, then it will be necessary to move on to phase 3 tests. This is where it could get complicated because the tests are complex.
But everyone wants to be confident and quickly hopes for a vaccine for "September-October, not December", confided Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Minister in charge of Industry, two weeks ago on Europe 1. At Sanofi, we still prefers to remain cautious and say "by the end of the year".
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In the meantime, the group will make its Marcy-l'Etoile plant near Lyon available to produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The first doses will come out from the third trimester.
Because you have to adapt the plant, which is not so simple.
Sanofi hopes to produce 12 million doses per month.
These will be added to those of Pfizer which will be produced from this summer in the German plant of Sanofi.