Sanofi ditches mRNA Covid-19 vaccine after rivals' success

Decision came despite positive phase one and two study results, where participants' blood readings showed a strong immune reaction

Sanofi said the read-out encouraged it only to pursue the technology as a potential vaccine against influenza and other diseases, giving up on the area of Covid-19.

Sanofi is dropping plans for its own mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine because of the dominance achieved by BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna in using the technology to fight the pandemic, the company said.

The move highlights the challenges of competing in particular with pioneer BioNTech, which rose from obscurity through its alliance with pharma major Pfizer last year. They have delivered close to 1.5bn doses so far to become the Western world's largest Covid-19 vaccine maker.