PARIS (Reuters) – Sanofi (NASDAQ:) is dropping plans for its own mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine because of the dominant role of the BioNTech-Pfizer alliance as well as Moderna (NASDAQ:) in the fight against the pandemic, the company said on Tuesday.

The move highlights the challenges of competing in particular with pioneer BioNTech, which rose from obscurity through its alliance with pharma major Pfizer (NYSE:) last year. They have produced close to 1.5 million doses, which makes them the largest western COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer.

French healthcare firm Sanofi plans to work with British partner GlaxoSmithKline to develop a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate. This will be based on the traditional protein-based approach. These trials are still ongoing.

The decision to drop clinical development of the mRNA shot, acquired as part of its takeover of Translate Bio (NASDAQ:), came despite positive Phase I/II study interim results https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2021/2021-09-28-08-00-00-2304069 announced on Tuesday where participants’ blood readings showed a strong immune reaction.

Sanofi claimed that it had been encouraged by the report to only pursue the technology in the field of influenza vaccine. The company also decided not to concentrate on COVID-19, as the market for the approved mRNA shoots was strong.

Jean-Francois Toussaint is global head for research and development at Sanofi Pasteur. “These results will clearly inform the path forward für unsere mRNA Entwicklungsprogramme.”

According to the company, it began testing an mRNA vaccine against seasonal flu in human in June. It will also launch clinical trials next year.

CureVac, the German biotech firm CureVac acknowledged its competitors’ dominance earlier this month when it cancelled several contract manufacturing contracts for its experimental vaccine COVID-19.

Following disappointing results from its trials CureVac’s product has been placed under review by Europe’s Drugs Regulator.

The mRNA vaccinations manipulate the human body into making antigens. These are proteins found at the surface coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. This primes your immune system for future infections.

Sanofi now plans to focus its attention on the traditional protein-based vaccine method. This involves the creation of the antigen in laboratories and the addition of an efficacy booster called adjuvant by GSK.

Thomas Triomphe, a Sanofi executive, told reporters in a briefing the EU and Britain have ordered 75 million doses this vaccine. He was awaiting regulatory approval.