SANOFI PASTEUR COMMENDS GAVI ALLIANCE FOR SUPPORTING THE INTRODUCTION OF INACTIVATED POLIO VACCINE IN WORLD'S POOREST COUNTRIES
- Sanofi Vaccines division well positioned to contribute to further expansion of Alliance portfolio -
Lyon, France – November 22, 2013 – Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and a global leader in both Oral and Inactivated Polio Vaccines (OPV and IPV), commends the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) for their recently-announced support of the introduction of IPV in routine immunization in the world's 73 poorest countries. The combined use of OPV and IPV is expected to improve immunity in countries threatened by the resurgence of polio.
"GAVI Alliance's decision will give every newborn in the world access to IPV. This is a great signal and opens the final stage of the eradication of polio," said Olivier Charmeil, President and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur. "Furthermore, the evolution of the Alliance's portfolio demonstrates that our vision of global health needs is relevant; we are well positioned to contribute to GAVI's ambition."
The support from GAVI Alliance paves the way for the implementation of the recommendation from the World Health Organization's (WHO) expert group on immunization (SAGE) that all countries introduce at least one dose of injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine polio immunization programs.
The GAVI Board also announced today it intends to enlarge the Alliance's vaccine portfolio. GAVI will further support yellow fever vaccination in endemic regions and will contribute to a global cholera vaccine stockpile for use in epidemic and endemic settings.
Sanofi Pasteur in the fight against polio
Sanofi Pasteur, as a leader in providing both OPV and IPV, has been a longstanding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) for over 20 years. Earlier this year, Sanofi Pasteur announced its commitment to provide 1.7 billion doses of OPV through 2017 to support the GPEI's polio vaccination program.
Sanofi Pasteur is also a leading supplier of IPV. In 1982, Sanofi Pasteur registered the first enhanced-potency inactivated polio vaccine, which is now distributed globally as a stand-alone poliovirus vaccine as well as in combination pediatric vaccines to immunize against many diseases in a single shot. Since then, Sanofi Pasteur has provided more than 800 million doses of IPV and IPV-containing vaccines. "We have expanded our production capacity for IPV and will be able to produce up to 300 million doses per year at full capacity", said Charmeil "More than ever, we intend to remain a major supporter of WHO and its partners in this effort to finish the job."
Sanofi Pasteur in the fight against cholera
Through its India-based Shantha subsidiary, Sanofi Pasteur provides a state-of-the-art, efficacious and WHO-prequalified oral cholera vaccine for the WHO's stockpile.
Sanofi Pasteur in the fight against yellow fever
Sanofi Pasteur is investing in its France-based yellow fever vaccine facility to increase production capacity of its WHO-prequalified vaccine that is registered in over 100 countries. Since 2003, Sanofi Pasteur has provided the majority of the 6 million doses of yellow fever vaccine for the stockpile funded by the GAVI Alliance to fight against epidemics in Africa.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, an integrated global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us
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Contacts:
Sanofi Pasteur Media Relations
Alain Bernal
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Sanofi Investor Relations
Sébastien Martel
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