Valneva announces start of third phase of COVID vaccine trial

French biotech company Valneva, which develops and commercializes vaccines against infectious diseases, has announced the beginning of the third phase of clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine, Report informs referring to RIA Novosti.

Earlier Valneva reported positive results of testing its vaccine against coronavirus.

"Valneva SE, a specialty vaccine company focused on the development and commercialization of prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases with significant unmet medical need, today announced it has initiated a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for its inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001," the company said in a statement.

The Phase 3 trial "Cov-Compare," (VLA2001-301), will compare Valneva’s SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, VLA2001, against AstraZeneca’s conditionally approved vaccine, Vaxzevria, in a comparative immunogenicity trial.

Approximately 4,000 participants will receive two doses of either vaccine.