Sanofi Pasteur enters Japan with paediatric vaccine

Sanofi Pasteur has announced that the company will be making a vaccine available in Japan.

Set for launch in the country on December 19th, the ActHib (Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine) will be marketed by Daiichi-Sankyo.

Wayne Pisano, president and chief executive officer at Sanofi Pasteur said that the company is proud to help Japanese children in the fight against Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), a cause of childhood bacterial meningitis.

He added: “Being the first to enter the Japanese paediatric vaccine market is an achievement that underlines Sanofi Pasteur’s strength and commitment to provide the highest quality innovative vaccines.”

The vaccine has seen 100 million doses used in over 120 countries and follows a spurred routine immunisation programme in children worldwide, from 26 countries in 1997 to over 120 countries in 2006, after the safety and efficiency of the vaccines were confirmed in the 90s.

Alongside ActHib, Sanofi Pasteur has other Hib-containing combination vaccines including Actacel, Pediacel, Pentacel and Pentaxim.

The World Health Organisation estimates that the disease is responsible for three million serious illnesses and an estimated 400,000 deaths per year worldwide.

Currently the only company in the UK totally dedicated to vaccines, Sanofi Pasteur was formed by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century.