Sanofi Pasteur initiates influenza vaccine trial

Sanofi Pasteur has announced today that it is initiating a Phase II trail investigating its cell culture-based seasonal influenza vaccine.

The trial is part of a contract awarded by the US Department of Health and Human Services which intends to expedite the development of new influenza vaccines developed using cell cultures.

Phase II trials will build on earlier Phase I trials and will focus further on the safety profile and immunogenicity of the vaccine.

Dutch biotechnology firm Crucell will provide its PER.C6 cell technology which Sanofi Pasteur hopes will offer a promising and reliable production method for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines in addition to proven egg-based production.

Sanofi Pasteur has given its full backing to the PER.C6 cell line following a successful bioreactor run of 20,000 litres.

A subcontracting agreement between Sanofi Pasteur and Lonza Biologics will see the implementation of a scale-up process to ensure that the PER.C6 technology can provide large-scale manufacturing of the influenza vaccine.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis, continues to be actively involved in other projects in the US and Europe.

This week the company announced study results for a vaccine for the prevention of widespread tropical disease dengue fever.