It arrives this Thursday in pharmacies, exactly two years behind the race for the first vaccines: the anti-Covid reminder from the French transnational company Sanofi will be available in pharmacies, starting this Thursday, December 22. In early December, the High Authority for Health (HAS) authorized the marketing of this “recombinant protein” vaccine.
Appointed VidPrevtyn Beta, the injection uses a classic technology, different from messenger RNA. Today, “bivalent” RNA boosters – that is to say adapted to the Omicron variant – from Moderna and Pfizer remain “preferentially” recommended for boosters by the HAS.
An alternative in case of reluctance or contraindication
What will the Sanofi vaccine be used for? “A year and a half ago, when we were working on its development, we quickly understood that the world would need boosters to fight against this virus, because immunity does not last very long”, develops Charles Wolf, “General Manager of Vaccines France” of Sanofi in the pages of Parisian this December 22. “Covid is not over! The waves follow one another, even if the impact on the hospital is less significant. Look at what is happening in China. Many experts fear that a new variant is developing there It is therefore necessary to have several solutions throughout this pandemic,” he said.
According to HAS, this new booster is indicated for those over 18 “who could not or would not like” to benefit from a booster with messenger RNA injections from Moderna or Pfizer, due to reluctance or possible contraindications. directions. For Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of community pharmacists of France, the arrival of this vaccine is indeed very good news for French vaccination coverage. “It is a proven technology, already used in many other vaccines and on which we have hindsight. This could convince the reluctant who do not want to do their reminders with messenger RNA vaccines”, he develops.
The path to a more enduring vaccine
Another track according to the professional, that of the duration of immunity that this vaccine could confer. “We know from experience that this type of recombinant protein vaccine offers longer protection than that of messenger RNA, which is currently only a few months”, explains Philippe Besset. This could eventually make it possible to have a vaccine that is injected once a year rather than every three or six months, as for the flu.
He is cautious, however: “Be careful, nothing proves it for the moment in the case of this anti-Covid vaccine. But if this is the case, this vaccine could be a formidable weapon against the weariness that we are beginning to feel. feel among at-risk audiences, who are tired of doing their reminders every few months.”
Good news for the French pharmaceutical industry
After the failure of the development of a first Sanofi RNA vaccine, due to a “dosage error on one of the reagents” and difficulties in setting up clinical trials, this new booster “was tested, developed and produced in France”, insists the national director. “And we are very proud of it!”, he adds. The HAS mentioned initial immunological data, suggesting “an efficacy at least equivalent to that of the vaccines currently recommended against the Omicron BA.4/5 variant” from other companies.
The French company, which remains the largest producer of influenza vaccine in the world, is now looking to the future. About 70 million doses of the anti-covid vaccine VidPrevtyn Beta have already been ordered by Europe. One billion euros will also be invested in a research center near Lyon, with the aim of developing “six messenger RNA vaccines by 2030 against influenza, bronchiolitis, chlamydia infection, and even against acne!” announced Charles Wolf.