Sanofi (SNY) said Saturday its Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine met the primary endpoint of a phase 4 trial by demonstrating a statistically lower probability of side effects compared with Moderna's (MRNA) newest mRNA vaccine.

The likelihood of experiencing at least one body-wide reaction within a week of injection was 83.6% for Nuvaxovid recipients, versus 91.6% for the competing formulation, the company said.

Severe systemic symptoms disrupting daily activities occurred in less than 10% of Nuvaxovid patients compared to one in five for the Moderna shot, while severe injection site reactions were over 75% less frequent, Sanofi said.

The trial results were presented at a medical congress in Germany, with patients receiving the protein-based shot reporting fewer disruptions to work and personal routines, it said.