Sanofi-Aventis to build new vaccine facility

Sanofi-Aventis has announced that it is to build a vaccine facility in Shenzhen to be used to prevent influenza in China and better prepare the country for a pandemic.

The company signed an agreement in the capital city Beijing during a visit by president of France Nicolas Sarkozy attended by Hu Jintao, the president of the People’s Republic of China.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis, will begin construction of the manufacturing facility next year, with the target of starting production of seasonal influenza vaccines by 2012.

The company already runs a facility in the Shenzhen district, while this new site aims to help the firm expand to meet the forecast growth of the vaccine market in China.

Gerard Le Fur, chief executive officer of Sanofi-Aventis., said: “China is joining a growing number of countries focusing on prevention of diseases and recognising the value of vaccines.

“The time is right for Sanofi Pasteur to further invest in China and prepare to provide this fast growing market with the most modern vaccines to be produced in a state-of-the-industry facility.”

Mayor of Shenzhen Xu Zongheng added that the agreement marks ten years of partnership between the local government and Sanofi-Aventis.

In September 2007, Sanofi-Aventis signed a collaboration agreement with the Institute of Haematology and Blood Diseases Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Tianjin.