A 'variant-proof' French vaccine may be key to fight against Covid
Coronavirus vaccine
As the world reels under waves of pandemic caused to to variants of COVID-19 virus, a vaccine being developed by a French firm may well offer a solution for the long-term fight against the deadly ailment.
The vaccine is being developed by a company named Valneva SE and it can be more 'variant-proof'.
The vaccine is undergoing clinical trials. It uses a 'tried-and-true' vaccine technology that involves inactivated version of the virus. The company announced last week that it had launched a Phase 3 trial of its candidate vaccine.
If the results of the trial are positive, "Valneva aims to make regulatory submissions for initial approval in the autumn of 2021."
Unlike most high-profile coronavirus shots, which use various methods to prime the immune system to fight the coronavirus, Valneva's version is based on an "inactivated" version of the coronavirus itself.
Valneva is a USD 100 million firm listed on Nasdaq. It has already struck a deal with the UK for 190 million doses. The UK contract alone is worth 1.4 billion Euros. This is more than 10 times the company's annual revenue last year.
(With inputs from agencies)