In the race against Covid-19 variants, how quickly can drugmakers respond?

GlaxoSmithKline's factory in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, France. The drugmaker is working with Vir Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based infectious disease firm, on a universal vaccine that would work against all coronaviruses.
GlaxoSmithKline's factory in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, France. The drugmaker is working with Vir Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based infectious disease firm, on a universal vaccine that would work against all coronaviruses. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

(FINANCIAL TIMES) - It was the fastest vaccine development in history. But now pharmaceutical companies are preparing to do it all over again.

With the emergence of worrying variants that could make Sars-CoV-2 - the virus that causes Covid-19 - more transmissible, more deadly or more resistant to vaccines, the drugmakers that responded in record time are rushing to head off new threats.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.