Sanofi Pasteur and Chumakov Institute Russian Academy Medical Sciences
Providers of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) IMOVAX Polio(TM) for Russia
National "Project Health"PARIS, Nov. 12 /CNW/ - Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of
sanofi-aventis Group, announced today that Russia has chosen inactivated polio
vaccine (IPV) from Sanofi Pasteur for primary immunization of all infants. The
IPV doses are provided by M.P. Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Virus
Encephalitides through a manufacturing agreement with Sanofi Pasteur.
IPV vaccination started in the summer of 2008 as part of Russia National
"Project Health." Four-million doses of IPV IMOVAX Polio(TM) have been
delivered to date, ensuring that a complete birth cohort (approximately
1.3 million babies are born every year in Russia) can receive the recommended
three doses of IPV vaccine.
"The Chumakov Institute was the first to produce oral polio vaccine which
was instrumental in eradicating poliomyelitis in Russia," said Academician
Sergey Drosdov, Senior Scientific Advisor of M.P. Chumakov Institute of
Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides Russian Academy Medical Sciences.
"Today, IPV is the vaccine of choice for post-eradication polio immunization
programs and the Institute is proud to bring this vaccine to Russian
children."
The Russian Federation was certified polio-free in 2002. Since 2006,
children from certain at risk groups are vaccinated with IPV. Starting mid
2008, all children less than one year of age are vaccinated following a
sequential schedule: three doses of IPV for primary immunization, followed by
two doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV).
"Every year in Russia, over 1.3 million children will be vaccinated with
IPV and will benefit from its enhanced safety profile," said Dr. Vladimir
Tatochenko, Professor of pediatrics, Head of Diagnostic Department of
Scientific Center of Children Health, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
"IPV fits perfectly with the Russian childhood immunization calendar. DTP
(diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and IPV will be administered during
the same pediatrician visit. The existing high DTP vaccination coverage will
ensure the success of IPV vaccination."
Over 50 polio-free countries are using IPV
An increasing number of polio-free countries are using IPV for their
national immunization programs which is becoming the international health
standard of care for polio vaccination. In 2007, Mexico was the first Latin
American country to choose IPV in a national immunization program with sanofi
pasteur's IPV containing pediatric combination vaccine, Pentaxim(R)
(Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine,
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine). Turkey also chose to include
Pentaxim(R) in its national immunization program.
In Indonesia the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting a pilot
program to evaluate the switch from OPV to IPV in a tropical setting, for
which sanofi pasteur is donating 1.5 million doses of IPV over 5 years.
Committed to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative for 20 years
Sanofi Pasteur has been a partner of the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative since its founding by WHO in 1988.- Since 1988, Sanofi Pasteur has been a leading provider of OPV,
supplying over 600 million vaccine doses in 2007, helping to reduce
the number of polio cases by 99% with an estimated five million
people escaping paralysis(1).
- Between 1997 and 2005 Sanofi Pasteur donated over 120 million doses
of oral polio vaccine to help eradicate polio in Africa (Nigeria is
the only remaining endemic country in Africa).
- In 2005, Sanofi Pasteur developed a novel monovalent Oral Polio
Vaccine type 1 or mOPV1 following urgent requests from the WHO. Fifty
million doses of mOPV 1 were used for the polio eradication campaign
in Egypt. As a result, Egypt was declared polio-free by the WHO in
February 2006.About M.P. Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides
The Institute of Poliomyelitis Research was established in 1955 by
Michael Chumakov who became its first Director.
In 1960, the Institute included several laboratories and research
departments from other research organizations and became Institute of
Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides.
Inactivated polio Salk vaccine has been produced in the Institute from
1956 to 1958, and since 1959 live attenuated polio vaccine administered orally
(OPV) manufactured by the Institute has been used for mass vaccination
campaigns.
Production technology of oral polio vaccine created in the Institute was
the first to be certified by WHO for production and control of polio vaccines.
In the 1980's, new inactivated vaccine against tick-born encephalitis was
developed by the Institute.
Now scientists are working on creation of human gamma immunoglobulin by
new hybrid technology.
Vaccines against rabies and hepatitis A were also developed in research
laboratories of M.P. Chumakov Institute and other Russian manufacturers
produce those vaccines for mass vaccination.
The Institute has an exclusive advantage of close coordination between
research and industrial operations. Scientists are involved in creating new
vaccines and also new technologies for mass production.
The research department of M. P. Chumakov Institute includes 18
laboratories with 91 research scientists, including four academicians. The
Institute produces live polio vaccine, vaccine against tick-born encephalitis,
rabies, yellow fever, and measles.
About poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus
that invades the nervous system and can cause severe paralysis. The virus
enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial
symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and
pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis
(usually in the legs). Among those paralyzed, 5-10% die when their breathing
muscles become immobilized. Polio mainly affects children under five years of
age. In 1994, the Region of the Americas was certified polio-free by the World
Health Organization, followed by the Western Pacific Region in 2000 and the
European Region in 2002; worldwide efforts are continuing towards global
eradication of this contagious and devastating disease.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers,
develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of
everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York
(NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, provided
more than 1.6 billion doses of vaccine in 2007, making it possible to immunize
more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine
industry, sanofi pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting
against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines
that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the
largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests
more than EUR1 million in research and development. For more information,
please visit: http://www.sanofipasteur.com or http://www.sanofipasteur.us
IMOVAX Polio(TM) is a trademark of Sanofi Pasteur.
Forward Looking Statements
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Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking
statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements
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statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with
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management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking
information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties,
many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of
sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results and developments to differ
materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the
forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties
include those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and
the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed under "Risk Factors"
and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in
sanofi-aventis' annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31,
2007. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not
undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information
or statements.(1) World Health Organization, Fact sheet 288 Immunization against
diseases of public health importancehttp://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs288/en/index.html
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For further information: Global Media Relations: Pascal Barollier, T.
+33-(0)4-37-37-50-38, pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com; US Media Relations,
Len Lavenda, T. (570) 957-4446, len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com
