1. Scrip
  2. >>COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: End Of The Road For Kevzara In COVID-19

Plus: J&J Start Phase I Vaccine Trial In Japan

 
• By Scrip Team

Sanofi/Regeneron are ending development of Kevzara for COVID-19 after Phase III disappointments. Meanwhile Regeneron is ramping up biologics manufacturing in Ireland as it makes way for COVID-19 antibody production in New York, and multiple vaccines move forward in Japan with new funding and trials.

Inscription COVID-19 on blue background. World Health Organization WHO introduced new official name for Coronavirus disease named COVID-19
• Source: Shutterstock

Sanofi/Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s interleukin-6 inhibitor Kevzara (sarilumab) will not be developed further for treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients after a Phase III trial in severely and critically ill patients failed to meet either its primary endpoint or key secondary endpoint.

The disappointing news isn't a surprise at this point, coming after Kevzara previously didn’t show a benefit in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in Phase III, and after another IL-6 inhibitor – Roche Holding AGs Actemra (tocilizumab) – also failed a Phase III trial in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

More from COVID-19

Arcturus and CSL Take on Pfizer With Longer-Lasting COVID Vaccine

 
• By Kevin Grogan

Kostaive is the first self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval from the European Commission and could provide serious competition to Pfizer/BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax.

Under-Pressure Moderna Banks $590m To Speed Up Bird Flu Vaccine

 
• By Kevin Grogan

A week after a downbeat forecast at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the US mRNA specialist has pocketed another sizeable sum from the US Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate development of an H5N1 mRNA pandemic influenza vaccine.

Stock Watch: Q3, Bonfire Of The Vaccine Manufacturers

 
• By Andy Smith

Pfizer’s and Moderna’s quarterly pandemic-related product sales could not mask other weaknesses while GSK’s quarter was marred by unimpressive non-pandemic vaccines sales.

Meiji Considers Legal Action Amid Japan Misinformation On Kostaive Vaccine

 
• By Lisa Takagi

Japanese distributor Meiji Seika Pharma is considering possible legal action against what it views as online slander around COVID-19 vaccine Kostaive, which received its global-first approval in Japan last year and has now been launched for regular vaccination in the country.

More from Scrip

‘Market Developments’ Persuade Galapagos To Rethink Spin-Off

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

CEO Paul Stoffels exits early to be succeeded by Henry Gosebruch, who will now consider ‘all options’ for the Belgian firm as it tries to claw back investor confidence.

Strong Showing For Bayer’s Pharma Business In Uncertain Times

 
• By Kevin Grogan

As CEO Anderson backs high prices for innovative drugs in Europe

Stock Watch: Stock Watch: Lilly And Novo Duke Out Q1

 
• By Andy Smith

Novo Nordisk enjoyed a surprise GLP-1 agonist contracting win in the first quarter of 2025. This provided a welcome boost to its stock after it had spent the previous quarter on the back foot against rival Lilly.