Sanofi/J&J drop development of E. coli vaccine

French pharma major Sanofi’s (Euronext: SAN) saw its shares edge up 1% by early afternoon, despite announcing a disappointment for a vaccine it is developing that will results in a significant impairment charge.

The company revealed that a scheduled review of the E.mbrace Phase III study conducted by an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) determined that Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) vaccine candidate for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli was not sufficiently effective at preventing invasive E. coli disease (IED) compared to placebo.

No safety signals related to the vaccine candidate were identified and, throughout the study, investigators ensured that participants who developed IED received prompt treatment and care. As a result of the IDMC’s determination, the E.mbrace study is being discontinued.