Sanofi Pasteur partner Shantha delivers 400,000 doses of pentavalent vaccine in India

Shantha Biotechnics, the India-based affiliate of Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (Euronext: SAN), has delivered the first 400,000 doses of its pediatric pentavalent vaccine Shan5 to Madhya Pradesh, India.

The 400,000 doses of Shan5 will support the immunization of children in the cities of Gwalior and Jabalpur in the Madhya Pradesh region. Shantha was awarded the contract in December 2014 after a two-year international tender, and agreed to supply global health organizations with 37 million doses of Shan5 in 2015 and 2016 in a 10-dose vial presentation. Shan5 will be used in the routine immunization programs of several GAVI-supported countries, enabling up to 10 million children to receive protection from five pediatric diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B.

Olivier Charmeil, president and chief executive of Sanofi Pasteur, said: "This supply illustrates how Shantha and Sanofi Pasteur meet public health needs. We are proud to contribute to making high-quality vaccines accessible to more children in developing countries."