A patient receives influenza virus vaccine. Courtesy photo: Sanofi Pasteur
(PRNewswire)–Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for licensure of Fluzone® High-Dose (Influenza Virus Vaccine). The new vaccine, for adults 65 years of age and older, will be available to health-care providers for immunizations administered this fall in preparation for the upcoming 2010-2011 influenza season.
“This new addition to Sanofi Pasteur’s vaccine portfolio reflects our long-standing commitment to public health and to research and development of new vaccines for enhanced prevention of influenza,” said Wayne Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi Pasteur. “In 2011, the first baby boomers will turn 65 and, by the year 2030, the number of adults over age 65 is anticipated to double and surpass 70 million people, or 20 percent of the U.S. population. We are excited to introduce Fluzone High-Dose vaccine which will provide health-care professionals with a new vaccine to help prevent influenza in their patients over the age of 65.”
Fluzone High-Dose vaccine was specifically designed to generate a more robust immune response in people 65 years of age and older. This age group typically does not respond as well to the standard dose of influenza virus vaccines as younger individuals because they have weakened immune systems.
