Sanofi Partners with BARDA for Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Development

Sanofi announced on Feb. 18, 2020 that its vaccines global business unit, Sanofi Pasteur, will partner with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to further develop a severe acute respiratory syndrome vaccine to potentially prevent novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to a company press release, Sanofi will use a recombinant DNA platform that produces a genetic match to proteins found on the surface of COVID-19 to formulate the vaccine. The DNA sequence will then be combined with the basis of the company’s licensed recombinant influenza product, the baculovirus expression platform, to produce large quantities of the coronavirus antigen.

“Addressing a global health threat such as this newest coronavirus is going to take a collaborative effort, which is why we are working with BARDA to quickly advance a potential vaccine candidate,” said David Loew, global head of Vaccines at Sanofi, in the press release. “While we are lending our expertise where possible, we believe the collaboration with BARDA may provide the most meaningful results in protecting the public from this latest outbreak.”

“Emerging global health threats like the 2019 novel coronavirus require a rapid response,” added Rick A. Bright, PhD, BARDA director, in the press release. “By expanding our partnership with Sanofi Pasteur and leveraging a licensed recombinant vaccine platform, we hope to speed development of a vaccine candidate to protect against a new virus.”

Source: Sanofi