Valneva SE has posted positive results for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which was compared to the AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) jab in clinical trials.
VLA2001 was found to lead to a stronger immune response and to cause fewer side effects compared to its competitor.
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Participants in the younger age group vaccinated showed an overall safety profile comparable to the older age group.
The French group recruited a total of 4,012 participants aged 18 years and older across 26 trial sites in the UK for the final stage of trials.
The formulation contains a strain of the virus that has been inactivated, and is the only one of this kind available in Europe for COVID-19.
“These results confirm the advantages often associated with inactivated whole virus vaccines,” said Valneva’s chief executive Thomas Lingelbach.
“We are committed to bringing our differentiated vaccine candidate to licensure as quickly as possible and continue to believe that we will be able to make an important contribution to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We are keen to propose an alternative vaccine solution for people who have not yet been vaccinated.”
The news comes a month after the UK ended a contract for the supply of 100mln doses of the jab, partly due to worries it may not gain regulatory approval.
Valneva, which has a producing plant near Edinburgh, is in talks with the European Commission to secure a supply agreement.