Sanofi Pasteur to donate 60 million H5N1 doses to WHO

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines segment of the Sanofi-Aventis group, has announced plans to donate 60 million doses of its H5N1 vaccine to the influenza vaccine global stockpile of the World Health Organisation (WHO) over three years.

The company claims to be dedicated to addressing both the current and future public health needs in this area through its investment in a strong research and development programme and its ambitious production plans for seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines.

Last year, the company produced 180 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine and supplied an estimated 40 per cent of the world influenza vaccine market.

The firm reports its commitment to producing as many doses as possible of its most advanced vaccine in the shortest timeframe in case of the declaration of a pandemic by the WHO, in which instance its seasonal influenza vaccine facilities would switch to manufacturing pandemic vaccines.

Wayne Pisano, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur, said: “The H5N1 virus is currently circulating in some of the poorest regions of the world and an outbreak of pandemic influenza would most likely hit populations living in areas with limited access to vaccines.

“This donation of H5N1 vaccine aims to address the needs of those most vulnerable populations.”

He added that it is vital for the vaccines industry to collaborate with global health players like WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to build a vaccines stockpile for developing nations.

In September 2007, Sanofi Pastuer announced the publication of data showing its investigational H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine containing a proprietary adjuvant to show a high immune response.