(Bloomberg) -- An experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Translate Bio Inc. and French drug giant Sanofi elicited high levels of protective neutralizing antibodies in early-stage animal studies, clearing the way for a clinical trial to start later this year.
Two doses of the candidate induced neutralizing antibodies “significantly higher” than those observed in Covid-19 patients as well as a response in infection-fighting T-cells in non-human primates, the companies said in a statement.
The candidate is a so-called messenger RNA vaccine, which prompts the body to make a key protein from the virus, sparking an immune response. It's based on technology similar to that used by one of the fastest-moving vaccine developers, Moderna Inc.
Sanofi is developing another coronavirus vaccine in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline Plc. That shot is already in a clinical trial, and first results are expected in early December to support the start of a broader phase 3 study before the end of the year, Sanofi said.
In an August filing, Translate Bio had cited Sanofi slides and disclosed that the mRNA vaccine had induced antibody protection that was “comparable to the upper range of those observed in infected humans.”
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