Sanofi Pasteur receives H1N1 vaccine order from French government
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of French drugmaker sanofi-aventis, is to supply 28 million doses of the A(H1N1) influenza virus vaccine, when it is available, to the French government.
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of French drugmaker sanofi-aventis, is to supply 28 million doses of the A(H1N1) influenza virus vaccine, when it is available, to the French government.
The order includes an option for an additional 28 million doses and follows an existing influenza pandemic vaccine supply agreement between Sanofi Pasteur and the French government that allows the French Ministry of Health to purchase vaccines for viruses deemed by the World Heath Organisation (WHO) to be pandemic or having a pandemic potential.
The vaccine will be manufactured in Val de Reuil, France. Dosage requirements for the new vaccine are yet to be determined and will be based on the outcome of clinical trials. Final formulation, filling and distribution of the vaccine should be decided in the next few months.
Sanofi Pasteur expects to have the first A(H1N1) vaccine doses ready for public health officials within four to six months.
In May, the US government placed a US$190m (Euro 135m) order with Sanofi Pasteur to begin production of an H1N1 vaccine at its site at Swiftwater, PA.