Sanofi-Aventis to produce vaccines
Lyon, France
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines business of the Sanofi-Aventis Group, has entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to produce doses of a vaccine to help protect against avian flu (H5N1).
The US$100 million contract calls for Sanofi Pasteur to manufacture the vaccine in bulk concentrate form at its US headquarters in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania. The agreement provides for additional fees to be paid to Sanofi Pasteur for storage of the vaccine as well as for formulation and filling of the vaccine upon government request.
In the US, the contract with HHS is Sanofi Pasteur's fifth pandemic-related agreement with the American government since May 2004. These agreements involved the production, storage, and scientific study of the vaccine against H5N1.
In Europe, Sanofi Pasteur has sponsored a clinical trial that investigates the vaccine's safety and immunogenicity. In addition, it is the only vaccine manufacturer to participate in a collaborative pandemic-preparation project spearheaded by the European Union.
It has also entered an agreement with the government of Australia to ensure the vaccine supply in the country in case of a pandemic.
Sanofi Pasteur operates two manufacturing facilities to produce injectable influenza vaccines-in Val de Reuil, France, and Swiftwater, Pennsylvania. It also began constructing a 145,000-square-foot, US$150-million manufacturing facility in Swiftwater expected to be ready for production for the 2008-2009 influenza season.
Meanwhile, Roche has agreed to increase the number of production licenses for oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
US senator Charles Schumer said Roche would meet four generic drug companies "to redouble their efforts to vastly increase supply of their avian-flu treatment by licensing production to more drug companies."
Schumer and Republican counterpart Lindsey Graham said that Roche had agreed not to increase prices and would immediately start talks with the four generic companies: Teva Pharmaceuticals, Barr Laboratories, Mylan Laboratories and Ranbaxy Laboratories. They made the announcement after meeting George Abercrombie, Roche Pharmaceuticals chief executive for the US.
Schumer said the US government might also name other companies that it wants to start producing Tamiflu.
Roche has agreed to sublicense the production of Tamiflu to companies that can produce it in quantities large enough to help meet the anticipated demand in case of a flu outbreak, said Schumer.
with a report from AFP
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