Sanofi and GSK sign Covid-19 vaccine supply deal with Canada

Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have signed a deal with the Government of Canada to supply up to 72 million doses of adjuvanted Covid-19 vaccine candidate from next year.

The vaccine candidate derives from Sanofi’s recombinant protein-based technology, as well as GSK’s pandemic adjuvant technology.

The companies launched a Phase I / II clinical trial on 3 September, with initial data expected December. These results could support a Phase III trial.

If researchers obtain positive trial data, the companies will apply for regulatory approval in the first half of next year.

Sanofi and GSK are working to step-up manufacture of the antigen and adjuvant to produce up to one million doses annually worldwide.

Sanofi Pasteur executive vice-president and global head Thomas Triomphe said: “To address a global health crisis of this magnitude, it takes partnerships and we are grateful to Canada for their collaboration, and to GSK for partnering with us to develop a safe and effective vaccine.”

GSK said it does not expect to make a profit from Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic. The company will invest any short-term income in research on coronavirus.

In a separate development, the Canadian government further increased its confirmed order commitment to 20 million doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273.

Earlier this month, Sanofi and GSK signed a deal with the European Commission to provide up to 300 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

In July, Sanofi and GSK partnered with the US Government to supply up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine. The government committed to provide up to $2.1bn to support the project.

Furthermore, the companies will supply up to 60 million doses to the UK Government.

Sanofi and GSK plan to deliver a portion of the total available global supply capacity to the COVAX initiative.