Paris (AFP)

French laboratories Sanofi and British GSK have promised up to 72 million doses of their candidate vaccine against Covid-19 to the Canadian government, which has already signed similar agreements with several American laboratories.

The two groups, which ensure that their vaccine could be authorized as early as the first half of 2021, launched human clinical trials in early September, for which 440 participants are being recruited.

"To overcome a health crisis of this magnitude, partnerships are essential. We are grateful to Canada for its collaboration and to GSK for partnering with us to develop a safe and effective vaccine," said Sanofi Pasteur Executive Vice President , Thomas Triomphe, quoted in a joint press release of the two groups.

The vaccine candidate, developed by Sanofi in partnership with GSK, is based on the recombinant protein technology that Sanofi used to produce one of these seasonal influenza vaccines and on an adjuvant developed by GSK.

Canada has already signed in August agreements in principle for candidate vaccines with the Americans Novavax, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna.

Canada has revised upwards its deal with Moderna by securing the supply of at least 14 million additional doses, Canadian Minister of Public Services and Supply Anita Anand announced on Monday.

In total, "Canada has now ensured guaranteed access to a minimum of 154 million doses and up to a maximum of 262 million potential vaccines to protect Canadians and save lives," said Ms. Anand during a press briefing.

Ottawa also announced an agreement with Gilead Sciences and McKesson Canada to obtain up to 150,000 vials of remdesivir.

Canada authorized the marketing of this antiviral used in the treatment of seriously ill Covid-19 patients at the end of July.

Canada has approximately 38 million people.

As of Monday, the country recorded more than 146,000 cases of coronavirus and 9,269 deaths.

Several countries have already reserved doses of the vaccine candidate from Sanofi and GSK - 60 million doses have been promised to the British government, the European Commission has reserved 300 million, and the United States 100 million with an option for up to 500 million additional doses over the longer term.

"The two companies are committed to offering their vaccine against COVID-19 at an affordable price and to make it accessible to all", assure the two laboratories, which also plan to make a significant portion of their production available to Covax , a device managed in particular by the WHO intended to buy and distribute equitably in the world 2 billion doses of vaccines in 2021.

The two companies hope to be able to submit an application for approval in the first half of 2021, and "are working to increase their production capacities" to be able to ensure the manufacture of up to a billion doses per year.

© 2020 AFP