Drugmakers Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline say they will seek authorization for a new COVID-19 vaccine after clinical trials showed a high level of protection.
Late-stage trials found that two doses of the vaccine were about 58% effective at preventing infection, 75% effective at preventing moderate to severe disease, and 100% effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalization, the companies said.
“The evolving epidemiology of COVID-19 demonstrates the need for a variety of vaccines,” Roger Connor, president of GSK Vaccines, saidThe Sanofi-GSK vaccine “uses a well-established approach that has been applied widely to prevent infection with other viruses, includingflu,” he said. “We are confident that this vaccine can play an important role as we continue to address this pandemic and prepare for the post-pandemic period.
Sanofi and GSK had planned for the vaccine to be ready last year, the AP reported., However, early clinical trials showed that the shot didn’t produce a robust immune response in ages 60 and older because it didn’t contain enough of the material that prompts the body to create antibodies.