The Covax facility is led by the Gavi Waccine Alliance Group and aims to enable businesses and researchers to collaborate, develop, produce and deliver equitable access to Covid testing, treatment and vaccines. In service of the alliance, British health giant GSK (LON:GSK) and French Pharma Blue Chip Sanofi (EPA:SAN) have signed an intent statement with Gavi to supply 200 million covid vaccine doses.
Once the necessary approvals are obtained, the companies say they will make their supplemental recombinant protein-based Covid-19 vaccine available to benefit their supplemental recombinant protein-based Covid-19 vaccines, supplemented by the Covax facility, available to contribute to the goal of “people in need, wherever they are, wherever they are.”
Speaking about the company’s commitment, Thomas Triomphe, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Sanofi Pasteur, said:
“To address a global health crisis of this magnitude, it will take a unique partnership. The commitment announced today at the Covax facility can help us to work together to put the pandemic under control. This moment also reflects our long-term commitment to global health, ensuring that the Covid-19 vaccine is affordable and accessible to the most at-risk people around the world.”
Roger Connor, president of GSK vaccines, has been added:
“Since we began working on developing a Covid-19 vaccine, GSK has committed to making it available to people all over the world. We are proud to work with Sanofi to make this adjuvanted, recombinant protein-based vaccine available in countries that have registered with the Covax facility as soon as possible. This could significantly contribute to the global battle against Covid-19.”
The start of two phases of the exam began on September 3, with 440 participants enrolled, and GSK said the first results are expected in early December 2020.
If the data proves sufficient for a license application, GSK said it will require regulatory approval in the first half of 2021. In parallel, GSK said IT and Sanofi are expanding the production of antigens and adjuvants, respectively.
The company adds that the use of adjuvant technology is particularly important in the pandemic situation as it could reduce the amount of vaccine protein per dose. It went on to say he doesn’t expect to see any profits from the Covid vaccine during the pandemic phase, saying that the short-term profits will be invested back in Covid-related research and long-term vaccine preparations.
