Translate Bio, Sanofi Covid-19 vaccine elicits immune response in animals

Translate Bio has reported that its Covid-19 vaccine candidate, being developed in collaboration with Sanofi, elicited immune response in early-stage animal studies.

In a regulatory filing, Translate Bio cited Sanofi’s presentation slides, which revealed that three doses of the vaccine candidate triggered neutralising antibodies and T-cell responses in the preclinical tests.

A statement from the filing read: “The slides, to the extent applicable to the company, describe preclinical data of the mRNA vaccine candidate at three dose levels in a non-human primate model, including binding antibody levels, neutralising antibody titers and helper T-cell response.

“These data demonstrate that two immunisations of the mRNA vaccine induced high neutralising titers that are comparable to the upper range of those observed in infected humans. Additionally, the mRNA vaccine-induced Th1-biased T-cell responses.”

Translate Bio added that researchers will test the potential vaccine in an early to mid-stage human trial scheduled to begin in November, reported Reuters.

Sanofi vaccines division Sanofi Pasteur partnered with Translate Bio in March for the development of a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine against Covid-19.

The vaccine candidate, similar to Moderna’s, leverages mRNA technology to deliver viral proteins to generate an immune response against Covid-19.

Later in April, Sanofi signed a letter of intent with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for a partnership focused on developing an adjuvanted vaccine for Covid-19.

Sanofi agreed to provide its S-protein Covid-19 antigen based on recombinant DNA technology, used to generate an ‘exact genetic match’ to proteins present on the SARS-CoV-2’s surface.

Meanwhile, GSK committed to offering its pandemic adjuvant technology.

Last month, the US Government said it is providing $2.1bn to Sanofi and GSK for the development, manufacturing, scale-up and delivery of an initial 100 million doses of their vaccine candidate.