As of: 09/28/2021 2:36 p.m.
The French pharmaceutical company Sanofi is ending the development of a corona vaccine based on mRNA technology. The lead of the two competitors BioNTech and Moderna is already too big.
Despite positive initial study results, Sanofi is withdrawing from the development of its own mRNA vaccine against Covid-19. This would come on the market too late, said a spokesman for the French pharmaceutical company. Because the competition is already dominated by the successful vaccines from competitors BioNTech / Pfizer and Moderna. That is why the group believes it has only limited opportunities in this business.
“We no longer need any new Covid vaccines with mRNA technology,” said Thomas Triomphem, vice head of the vaccination division. Sanofi will therefore focus on its protein-based Covid-19 vaccine. This vaccine, which Sanofi is developing together with the British manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, is currently in the crucial phase 3 study and could be available by December.
Vaccines for future pandemics
According to Triomphem, the company wants to use the new technology to develop vaccines for future pandemics. In addition, Sanofi is now focusing on the development of an mRNA vaccine against influenza. The clinical studies on this are to start in the coming year. But here, too, Pfizer has come a long way. The US competitor has already started a clinical study with an mRNA vaccine against influenza. Moderna is also currently developing a comparable vaccine.
In any case, the technology is considered to be extremely promising. Sanofi boss Paul Hudson recently emphasized that mRNA technology could play a major role in the future, for example in the treatment of cancer and rare diseases.
Messenger RNA
Messenger RNA, or mRNA for short, is a messenger molecule that brings genetic information from the cell nucleus to the ribosomes. These are the areas of the cell in which – according to the instructions for the genetic information – proteins are formed. The vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 use mRNA to stimulate the human body to produce its own antibodies as “drugs” against the coronavirus. Vaccines based on mRNA can be developed, adapted and manufactured more quickly than conventional preparations such as vector or dead vaccines.
AstraZeneca cooperates with start-up
Others have long since discovered how promising this path is. Just a few days ago, the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca agreed on a multi-million dollar cooperation with the startup VaxEquity. The group is relying on the next generation of RNA technology. AstraZeneca is also involved therapeutic use in cancer and rare genetic diseases.
Investors reacted calmly to the Sanofi news. In France, the share rose slightly in an overall weak market. With this decision, the group can save development costs that can now flow into other products.