UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the
month of April 2020
Commission
File Number 001-15170
GlaxoSmithKline plc
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS
(Address
of principal executive office)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F . . . .X. . . . Form 40-F . . . . . . . .
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Issued: 14 April 2020, London and Paris
Sanofi and GSK to join forces in unprecedented vaccine
collaboration to fight COVID-19
Companies to combine innovative technologies to develop an
adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine
Candidate vaccine expected to enter clinical trials in the second
half of 2020 and, if successful, to be available in the second half
of 2021
Sanofi and GSK today announce that they have signed a letter of
intent to enter into a collaboration to develop an adjuvanted
vaccine for COVID-19, using innovative technology from both
companies, to help address the ongoing pandemic.
Sanofi will contribute its S-protein COVID-19 antigen, which is
based on recombinant DNA technology. This technology has produced
an exact genetic match to proteins found on the surface of the
virus, and the DNA sequence encoding this antigen has been combined
into the DNA of the baculovirus expression platform, the basis of
Sanofi's licensed recombinant influenza product in the
US.
GSK will contribute its proven pandemic adjuvant technology to the
collaboration. The use of an adjuvant can be of particular
importance in a pandemic situation since it may reduce the amount
of vaccine protein required per dose, allowing more vaccine doses
to be produced and therefore contributing to protect more
people.
Paul Hudson, CEO Sanofi, said: "As the world faces this
unprecedented global health crisis, it is clear that no one company
can go it alone. That is why Sanofi is continuing to
complement its expertise and resources with our peers, such as GSK,
with the goal to create and supply sufficient quantities of
vaccines that will help stop this virus."
Emma Walmsley, CEO GSK, said: "This collaboration brings two of the
world's largest vaccines companies together. By combining our
science and our technologies, we believe we can help accelerate the
global effort to develop a vaccine to protect as many people as
possible from COVID-19."
The combination of a protein-based antigen together with an
adjuvant, is well-established and used in a number of vaccines
available today. An adjuvant is added to some vaccines to enhance
the immune response, and has been shown to create a stronger and
longer lasting immunity against infections than the vaccine alone.
It can also improve the likelihood of delivering an effective
vaccine that can be manufactured at scale.
The companies plan to initiate phase I clinical trials in the
second half of 2020 and, if successful and subject to regulatory
considerations, aim to complete the development required for
availability by the second half of 2021.
As previously announced by Sanofi, development of the
recombinant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate is being supported
through funding and a collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced
Research and Development Authority (BARDA), in the US. The
companies plan to discuss funding support with other governments
and global institutions prioritising global access.
BARDA Director, Rick A. Bright, Ph.D., said: "Strategic alliances
among vaccine industry leaders are essential to make a coronavirus
vaccine available as soon as possible. Development of the
adjuvanted recombinant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate holds the
potential to lower the vaccine dose to provide vaccine to a greater
number of people to end this pandemic, and help the world become
better prepared or even prevent future coronavirus
outbreaks."
The companies have set up a Joint Collaboration Task Force,
co-chaired by David Loew, Global Head of Vaccines, Sanofi and Roger
Connor, President Vaccines, GSK. The taskforce will seek to
mobilise resources from both companies to look for every
opportunity to accelerate the development of the candidate
vaccine.
Considering the extraordinary humanitarian and financial challenge
of the pandemic, both companies believe that global access to
COVID-19 vaccines is a priority and are committed to making any
vaccine that is developed through the collaboration affordable to
the public and through mechanisms that offer fair access for people
in all countries.
This new collaboration marks a significant milestone in Sanofi's
and GSK's ongoing contributions to help fight COVID-19. The
companies have entered into a Material Transfer Agreement to enable
them to start working together immediately. Definitive terms
of the collaboration are expected to be finalised over the next few
weeks.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health
challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on
human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative
treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few
who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term
chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries,
Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare
solutions around the globe. Sanofi, Empowering
Life.
About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special
purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For
further information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.
GSK enquiries:
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UK
Media enquiries:
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Simon
Steel
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+44 (0)
20 8047 5502
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(London)
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Simon
Moore
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+44 (0)
20 8047 5502
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(London)
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US
Media enquiries:
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Kristen
Neese
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+1 804
217 8147
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(Philadelphia)
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Kathleen
Quinn
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+1 202
603 5003
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(Washington
DC)
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Analyst/Investor
enquiries:
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Sarah
Elton-Farr
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+44 (0)
208 047 5194
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(London)
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Danielle
Smith
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+44 (0)
20 8047 0932
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(London)
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James
Dodwell
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+44 (0)
20 8047 2406
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(London)
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Jeff
McLaughlin
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+1 215
751 7002
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(Philadelphia)
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Frannie
DeFranco
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+1 215
751 4855
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(Philadelphia)
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Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking
statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or
projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement,
are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors
include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D
'Principal risks and uncertainties' in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for
2019.
Registered in England & Wales:
No. 3888792
Registered Office:
980
Great West Road
Brentford, Middlesex
TW8
9GS
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
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GlaxoSmithKline plc
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(Registrant)
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Date: April
14, 2020
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By:/s/ VICTORIA
WHYTE
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Victoria Whyte
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Authorised
Signatory for and on
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behalf
of GlaxoSmithKline plc
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