Sanofi Pasteur files Fluzone sBLA with FDA for treatment of influenza

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today that it has filed a Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a quadrivalent formulation of its Fluzone^®  (Influenza Virus Vaccine). The sBLA file has been accepted by the FDA for full review, and an action date is anticipated in the second quarter of 2013.

"The addition of a fourth influenza virus strain to the seasonal influenza vaccine formulation has the potential to make a substantial impact in reducing influenza disease and influenza-related complications, hospitalizations and deaths among those who contract the disease," said David Greenberg, M.D., Senior Director, U.S. Scientific and Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur. "Two influenza B-lineage strains typically co-circulate in the U.S each year, so it makes sense to include both in the vaccine rather than attempting to predict which of the two will be the dominant strain. In fact, in six of the past 12 influenza seasons, the B strain selected by health authorities for inclusion in the vaccine was not the predominant B-lineage strain that circulated during the next influenza season."

The strains for each season's influenza vaccine are selected by the FDA, in consultation with global health authorities, from the strains anticipated to circulate in the approaching influenza season. Seasonal influenza vaccines contained only two strains (one strain of type A influenza and one strain of type B influenza) until 1978, when the decision was made to incorporate a second type A influenza strain in order to provide protection against the two different A strains that were co-circulating. From then until now, influenza vaccines have been trivalent to help protect against three stains of influenza virus (two of type A and one of type B). However, since the influenza B Victoria lineage re-emerged worldwide in 2001-2002, two influenza B strains (one each from the Victoria and Yamagata lineages) have co-circulated with varying prevalence, making it difficult to predict the next season's dominant B strain. Even in years where the correct B virus strain was selected for the vaccine, some influenza disease was caused by the B strain omitted from the vaccine. These factors raised the hypothesis that the addition of a second B-lineage strain to expand the licensed trivalent influenza vaccine to a quadrivalent vaccine could help reduce influenza disease and the frequent complications that occur, often resulting in preventable hospitalizations or even deaths. 

Sanofi Pasteur is seeking FDA licensure of Fluzone Quadrivalent Influenza Virus Vaccine for active immunization of children and adults 6 months of age and older for the prevention of influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and types B contained in the vaccine. This is the same age indication for Sanofi Pasteur's currently licensed trivalent influenza virus vaccine, Fluzone vaccine. Fluzone vaccine is used in the U.S. to help protect more than 50 million people each year against influenza and is the only influenza vaccine licensed in the U.S. for children as young as 6 months of age. While influenza B can affect people of any age, it is responsible for a substantial burden of disease and influenza-associated complications and hospitalizations in children.

If approved by the FDA, Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine would be the first quadrivalent influenza vaccine for Sanofi Pasteur. Sanofi Pasteur also has development efforts underway for quadrivalent formulations of the company's other influenza vaccines including Fluzone High-Dose and Fluzone Intradermal vaccines, which are marketed in the U.S., and Vaxigrip® vaccine, which is marketed outside the U.S.