Feds enter agreement for 72 million doses of adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine

 

The Government of Canada has entered into agreements with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur for the supply of up to 72 million doses of an adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine, which reportedly will be available globally at an affordable rate, will become available sometime in 2021.

"This announcement showcases our unwavering commitment to develop a COVID-19 vaccine that is available to everyone when it comes to market," Thomas Triomphe, executive vice president and global head of Sanofi Pasteur, said in a news release.

"To address a global health crisis of this magnitude, it takes partnerships and we are grateful to Canada for its collaboration, and to GSK for partnering with us to develop a safe and effective vaccine,” he continued.

Both companies’ global manufacturing networks will play a pivotal role in the production of the vaccine, while Sanofi’s Toronto vaccine manufacturing site will play a role in process and analytical development along with clinical manufacturing to support Sanofi Pasteur's overall global efforts to develop and manufacture a vaccine that protects against the virus.

"Sanofi has a long-standing legacy of developing safe and effective vaccines for Canadians," Jean-Pierre Baylet, general manager for Sanofi Pasteur Canada, said in the same release.

"The partnership with the Government of Canada marks a key milestone in protecting and serving the Canadian population against COVID-19 and builds on our Toronto manufacturing site's more than 100-year history as a reliable public health partner,” he continued.

Sanofi is leading the clinical development and registration of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a Phase 1/ 2 study began on September 3 with a total of 440 subjects.

The company anticipates results will be ready by December 2020, after which a pivotal Phase 3 study will begin before the end of the year.

If the data is sufficient for regulatory application, a request for regulatory approval will be made in the first half of 2021.