Sanofi Pasteur inaugurates high tech vaccine production facility

Sanofi pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, has inaugurated a high-tech vaccine production facility in France to respond to soaring demand worldwide.

This new Euro 100m facility located in Val de Reuil incorporates the latest technology and is part of a total €600m investment undertaken by sanofi pasteur in France between 2005 and 2008.

The new highly automated facility can produce vaccines against 20 diseases and is designed to be ready to switch to pandemic influenza vaccine in the event of a human pandemic influenza.

The 7,800m² building is projected to be operational by the end of 2008, on certification by health authorities. The facility is able to fill 200 million syringes and vials per year, increasing by two fold the current capacity at this site.

Sanofi pasteur has invested more than €1bn in industrial capacities worldwide during the last five years (2004-2008) to meet the growing global demand for vaccines. Key recent investments include formulation and filling capacities, completion of the world's largest production unit for inactivated polio vaccine, and a new influenza vaccine production facility.

In 2008, investments translated into the groundbreaking of a new production building for pediatric vaccines located in Marcy L'Etoile, near Lyon, France.

"Sanofi pasteur's commitment to global health is exemplified by significant investments in vaccine production infrastructures. These efforts are aimed at meeting a world demand for vaccines expected to double by 2016," said Wayne Pisano, president and ceo.

"Sanofi pasteur Val de Reuil site is a hub for global health with more than two million doses of vaccines shipped worldwide each day. The new facility will further enable sanofi pasteur to fulfil its commitment of providing highest quality vaccines to protect people from infectious diseases wherever they live."