US FDA approves Sanofi Fluzone vaccine for people aged 65 and older
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its new flu vaccine, which will be marketed under the name Fluzone.
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its new flu vaccine, which will be marketed under the name Fluzone.
The company says the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine is for people aged 65 and older, an age group that typically does not respond as well to the standard dose of flu vaccines as younger individuals owing to their weakened immune systems.
According to Sanofi-Pasteur, the vaccine - which protects against virus subtypes A and B - will be prepared for distribution during the 2010/2011 influenza virus season.
Wayne Pisano, president and chief executive officer of Sanofi Pasteur, said: "We are excited to introduce Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, which will provide healthcare professionals with a new vaccine to help prevent influenza in their patients over the age of 65."
The vaccine contains 60mcg of hemagglutinin per strain of influenza virus in the vaccine compared with 15mcg in the standard-dose vaccine. It is supplied as a single-dose, prefilled syringe.