• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Sci-tech

Sanofi, GSK variant-specific COVID-19 shot found effective against Omicron

24 June 2022, 4:02 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
Company logo of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline is seen at their Stevenage facility, Britain October 26, 2020.

Company logo of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline is seen at their Stevenage facility, Britain October 26, 2020.

Image: Reuters

Company logo of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline is seen at their Stevenage facility, Britain October 26, 2020.

 Late-stage data on an experimental COVID-19 vaccine from Sanofi  and GSK has shown the shot confers protection against the Omicron variant of the virus, the companies said on Friday.

The so-called bivalent vaccine targets the Beta variant as well as the original strain of the virus.

In a trial involving 13 000 adults, the vaccine demonstrated an efficacy rate of 64.7% against symptomatic COVID-19, and 72% efficacy against infections specifically caused by the Omicron variant.

When used in people who previously had COVID-19, the results were stronger. The vaccine generated an efficacy rate of 75.1% against symptomatic COVID19 and 93.2% in Omicron-confirmed symptomatic cases, the companies said.

“Sanofi-GSK’s vaccine is the first candidate to demonstrate efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial in an environment of high Omicron variant circulation,” Sanofi said in a statement.

Sanofi’s Paris-listed shares and GSK’s London-listed shares were both up more than 1% in morning trading.

Earlier this month, the bivalent vaccine showed potential in two trials to protect against the virus’ main variants of concern – the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 strains – when used as a booster shot.

Sanofi and GSK, two of the world’s biggest vaccine makers, are hoping to gain a foothold in the market for next-generation variant-focused COVID-19 shots, after falling behind competitors including Moderna , AstraZeneca  and Pfizer-BioNTech, in the original race to contain the pandemic.

The new data supporting the bivalent vaccine will be submitted to regulatory authorities with the hope of making the shot available later this year, the companies said on Friday.

Sanofi and GSK’s original COVID-19 vaccine is already under review by the European Medicines Agency.

The companies have bet that this bivalent vaccine moulded on the now-supplanted Beta variant will confer broad protection against future viral strains on the basis that Beta expresses similar mutations across multiple variants of concern, including Omicron.

Share article
Tags: COVID-19Omicron variant
Previous Post

Tunisian interior ministry says there are threats to president’s life

Next Post

DA in KZN condemns attack on the party’s eThekwini councillor

Related Posts

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at the time it was not yet clear whether the virus was actively spreading in New York

Polio virus found in New York City wastewater, suggesting local transmission

12 August 2022, 8:46 PM
Palaeontologists work on the excavation of bones and fossils that belonged to a newly discovered species of bipedal armoured dinosaur.

Remains of small armor-plated dinosaur unearthed in Argentina

12 August 2022, 6:33 PM
The SABC News COVID-19 Global Wrap brings you highlights of news which dominated headlines with regards to the coronavirus pandemic.

Weekly Global COVID-19 Wrap

12 August 2022, 3:29 PM
A doctor administers a COVID-19 vaccine.

Concerns raised following a controversial COVID-19 vaccination drive circular in WC

12 August 2022, 2:18 PM
Mock-up vials labeled "Monkeypox vaccine" are seen in this illustration taken, May 25, 2022

Monkeypox vaccines: What’s available and why they aren’t a silver bullet

12 August 2022, 8:24 AM
Paleontologists say the Cretaceous Period dinosaur, named Jakapil kaniukura, would have been well-protected with rows of bony disk-shaped armour along its neck and back and down to its tail.

Remains of small armour-plated dinosaur unearthed in Argentina

12 August 2022, 4:37 AM
Next Post
DA logo

DA in KZN condemns attack on the party's eThekwini councillor

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • TEMBISA UNREST: ‘Police killed him because they thought he was taking a video’
  • Zimbabwe to repatriate thousands of its nationals following cancellation of special permits
  • J&J to end global sales of talc-based baby powder
  • KZN Premier appoints four new MECs, Zikalala takes over Co-operative Governance portfolio
  • Ramaphosa given 48 hours to step aside
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Miss SA Lalela Mswane crowned Miss Supranational 2022
  • EFF’s planned national shutdown won’t be an ordinary one: Malema

LATEST

Emerald Sky social housing units in East London, Eastern Cape.
  • South Africa

City of Tshwane has its hands full as social housing backlog worsens


An aerial view of land.
  • South Africa

Botlokwa residents not satisfied with Land Claims Commission’s handling of 20-year claim


Image of mourners at King Zwelithini's memorial.
  • South Africa

Prince Simakade Zulu to perform ceremony of entering the kraal


  • Africa

Mozambique’s insurgency crisis on the agenda of the upcoming SADC Summit


Water from heavy rains runs along a road, which was damaged during previous flooding, in kwaNdengezi near Durban, South Africa, May 22, 2022.
  • Business

Treasury allocates over R600 million for flood relief


SAA planes
  • Business

SAA stands to lose some key routes if it fails to comply with obligations from air services council


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Tunisian interior ministry says there are threats to president’s life
Next DA in KZN condemns attack on the party’s eThekwini councillor