GlaxoSmithKline shares boosted after drugmaker says coronavirus vaccine could be ready by early 2021

Drug giants GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi have pencilled in early 2021 for regulatory approval for their coronavirus vaccine
GSK/PA
Mark Shapland3 September 2020

Drug giants GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi have pencilled in early 2021 for regulatory approval for their coronavirus vaccine.

The drugmakers have started clinical trials for the vaccine and first results are expected in December.

If the data from the tests is positive then they will move to gain regulatory approval right away.

Drugmakers and governments around the world are battling to develop treatments against the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 861,000 lives and crippled economies.

The US government agreed in July to give GSK and Sanofi £1.6 billion to speed up development of the vaccine, which would also provide the US with 100m doses of the treatment, if effective.

The firms have also agreed to supply the UK government with up to 60 million doses of the vaccine.

Thomas Triomphe, global head of Sanofi Pasteur, said: "Sanofi and GSK bring proven science and technology to the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic, with the shared objective of delivering a safe and effective vaccine.

"The initiation of our clinical study is an important step and brings us closer to a potential vaccine which could help defeat COVID-19. Our dedicated teams and partner continue to work around the clock as we aim to deliver the first results in early December. Positive data will enable a prompt start of the pivotal phase 3 trial by the end of this year."

Roger Connor, president of GSK Vaccines added: "Moving this vaccine candidate into clinical development is an important moment in the progress towards addressing the global pandemic we are all facing.

"This builds on the confidence shown by governments already in the potential of this protein-based adjuvanted vaccine candidate, which utilises established technology from both companies, and can be produced at scale by two of the leading vaccine manufacturers globally. We now look forward to the data from the study, and if positive, beginning a Phase 3 trial by the end of the year."

Glaxo shares were 6.4p at 1495p.

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