Sanofi Pasteur Announces FDA Approval of Quadracel DTaP-IPV Vaccine for Children 4 through 6 Years of Age

SWIFTWATER, Pa., March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN andNYSE: SNY), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved use of Quadracel^™ (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Absorbed and Inactivated Poliovirus; DTaP-IPV) vaccine for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis in children 4 through 6 years of age.

"The FDA approval of Quadracel vaccine provides health care providers with a new combination vaccine, potentially reducing the number of vaccine injections children aged 4 through 6 would need," said David P. Greenberg, M.D., Vice President, U.S. Scientific and Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur. "Our goal is to help remove barriers to timely immunization and we think this combination vaccine could help ensure children are getting vaccinated in line with current recommendations."

To protect infants and children from life-threatening diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend children 4 through 6 years of age receive both their fifth dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine series and their fourth dose of inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccine series.¹ Quadracel vaccine can be administered as a fifth dose in the DTaP series and as a fourth or fifth dose in the IPV series in children 4 through 6 years of age.

This FDA approval is based on data from a pivotal multicenter, randomized, controlled, Phase III study designed to compare the safety and immunogenicity of Quadracel vaccine (DTaP-IPV) with DAPTACEL (DTaP) and IPOL (IPV) vaccines in children 4 through 6 years of age who were previously vaccinated with DAPTACEL and/or Pentacel (DTaP-IPV/Hib) vaccines. Results show Quadracel vaccine has similar safety and immunogenicity profiles as compared to those of separately administered DAPTACEL and IPOL vaccines.

About Quadracel Vaccine
Indication
Quadracel vaccine is given for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis. A single dose of Quadracel vaccine is approved for use in children 4 through 6 years of age as a fifth dose in the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccination (DTaP) series, and as a fourth or fifth dose in the inactivated poliovirus vaccination (IPV) series, in children who have received 4 doses of Pentacel^® (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Inactivated Poliovirus and Haemophilus b Conjugate [Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate] Vaccine) and/or DAPTACEL^® (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed).

Safety Information
Side effects of Quadracel vaccine may include pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site; muscle pain, fatigue, and headache. Other side effects may occur. Tell the doctor if your child has ever experienced a severe brain disorder, such as encephalopathy (altered consciousness), Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness), or if side effects occurred following a previous dose of pertussis-containing vaccine.

There is a small risk of allergic reactions. Some signs of allergic reactions are hives, swelling of the throat, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and shock. If your child begins experiencing any of these signs seek treatment right away. These reactions are rare and usually occur before leaving the doctor's office. If you notice any other problems or symptoms following vaccination, please contact your child's doctor promptly. Vaccination with Quadracel vaccine may not protect all children receiving the vaccine.

For more information about Quadracel vaccine, please see the full Prescribing Information available at www.sanofipasteur.us or https://www.vaccineshoppe.com/.

About Sanofi
Sanofi, an integrated global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers a broad 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 EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Sanofi's 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, 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 among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.           

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2015 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf. Accessed January 15, 2015.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150324/NY62420LOGO

SOURCE Sanofi Pasteur

Related Links

http://www.sanofipasteur.us