After Early Setback, Sanofi-GSK Vaccine Finds Better Luck In Phase 2 Trials
The initial Phase 1/2 trial suggested the vaccine wasn’t adequately protective in older adults. But new results show that the companies' covid vaccine generates strong levels of antibodies for all adults.
AP:
Sanofi-GSK Reports Success In Virus Vaccine, After Setback
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline’s potential COVID-19 vaccine triggered strong immune responses in all adult age groups in preliminary trials after an earlier setback, boosting optimism the shot may join the fight against the pandemic this year. After two doses of the vaccine candidate, participants showed neutralizing antibodies in line with those found in people who had recovered from the disease, according to results of the Phase 2 trial released Monday. The drugmakers said they plan to begin late-stage trials and production in the coming weeks and hope to win regulatory approval for the vaccine before the end of 2021. (5/17)
Stat:
Sanofi, GSK Announce Positive Results For Covid-19 Vaccine Candidate
The companies suffered a disappointing setback last year when their initial Phase 1/2 trial suggested the vaccine wasn’t adequately protective in older adults. It was discovered that the reagents used to determine how much vaccine was in each dose had given false readings, leading to subjects in the trial receiving too little vaccine and forcing the companies to conduct a second Phase 2 trial. (Branswell, 5/17)
In other vaccine development news —
Politico:
Big Vaccine Makers Reject Offers To Help Produce More Jabs
As much of the world remains starved for coronavirus vaccines, a group of companies is offering to partner with larger drugmakers as one way to rev up production. But they're getting the same answer: No thanks.Biolyse in Canada, Incepta in Bangladesh, Teva in Israel and Bavarian Nordic in Denmark have all asked to assist in the manufacture of vaccines. As yet, none has a deal. (Furlong, 5/14)
The Baltimore Sun:
COVID Vaccine Protection May Be Weaker In Some Cancer Patients. But Experts Say They Should Still Get Vaccinated.
The results were in, and Geoff Grubbs braced for the worst. But his immunologist surprised him: After getting both doses of COVID-19 vaccine, Grubbs had acquired some immunity against the coronavirus. It’s not the first time Grubbs, 70, has beaten the odds. After being diagnosed about 12 years ago with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the Washington, D.C., resident watched in pain as his immune system broke down and left him exposed to the raw forces of the world. He’s faced frequent sickness, undergone chemotherapy and may soon need to start a new round of treatment. (Miller, 5/17)
Fox News:
COVID-19 Vaccines 94% Effective Among Health Care Workers In Real-World Conditions: CDC Study
A new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday is the latest to show real-world evidence of the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines that were developed with mRNA technology. The study, which is based on health care personnel at 33 sites across 25 states, found that a single dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines was about 82% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 infections among the health care workers studied. Vaccine effectiveness increased to 94% following both doses of either jab. (Farber, 5/15)
CIDRAP:
COVID MRNA Vaccines Induce Immune Response In Pregnant, Lactating Women
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines trigger an immune response in pregnant and breastfeeding women, and maternal antibodies transfer into infant cord blood and breast milk, a small descriptive study yesterday in JAMA finds. A team led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researchers in Boston assessed immune response in a convenience sample of 103 pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant women given either the Pfizer/BioNTech (54%) or the Moderna (46%) COVID-19 vaccine from December 2020 through March 2021. Seventeen percent of pregnant participants received their first vaccine dose in the first trimester, while 50% received it in their second trimester, and 33% got theirs in their final trimester. (Van Beusekom, 5/14)
Also —
The Wall Street Journal:
Covid-19 Drugmakers Take On Your Favorite TV Shows To Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel wore a white lab coat and head mirror strapped to his forehead on his talk show last month and talked about Covid-19 vaccines that use messenger RNA. “This technology could be a real game-changer,” he says. The skit was sponsored by vaccine maker Moderna Inc., MRNA 7.68% one of a number of direct-to-consumer advertisements paid for by pharmaceutical companies aimed at hesitancy and lack of awareness toward vaccines and drugs for Covid-19. (Walker, 5/16 )
