Sanofi's Fluzone High-Dose backed by Health Canada for adults over 65

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines business of French pharma major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN), says that Health Canada has approved its Fluzone 's High-Dose vaccine, the first and only influenza vaccine developed for adults 65 years of age and older with evidence demonstrating that it is significantly more effective in preventing lab-confirmed influenza illness versus a standard dose trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV).

In its immunization advisory statement for the upcoming 2016/2017 influenza season, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has stated: “Considering the burden of disease associated with influenza A(H3N2) and the evidence of superior efficacy of high dose TIV compared to standard dose TIV, it appears that high dose TIV would provide the greatest benefit to the ≥65 years age group.”

As the immune system declines with age, older adults do not respond to standard dose influenza vaccines as well as younger adults. Fluzone High-Dose vaccine was developed to address the need for an enhanced immune response in those 65 years of age and older. Importantly, Fluzone High-Dose was recognized by Health Canada and the NACI to have demonstrated higher efficacy against lab-confirmed influenza illness compared to a standard dose vaccine in adults 65 years of age and older.1-3