Sanofi Pasteur Launches IMOJEV(R) First Single-dose Vaccine Against Japanese Encephalitis in Australia

AsiaNet 51608

MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec 10, /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

     - About 3 billion people living in Asia Pacific and travellers to the

                 region are at risk of Japanese encephalitis -

    Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE:

SNY), announced today that IMOJEV(R) vaccine against Japanese encephalitis (JE)

is now available in Australia. IMOJEV(R) is the first single dose vaccine

against JE for adults in Australia. For children, one dose of IMOJEV is

recommended for primary immunization; the addition of a booster dose to extend

the duration of protection is being assessed by Australian Health Authorities.

IMOJEV(R) vaccine is licensed in Australia for people from 12 months of age and

older.

    About 3 billion people in the Asia Pacific Region are at risk of JE [1] for

which there is no specific treatment [2]. In 1995 the first outbreak in

Australia was identified in the islands of the Torres Strait [3]. More recently

outbreaks have also occurred in Northern Queensland. JE is the leading cause of

childhood viral neurological infection and disability in Asia. JE is also a

potential risk for travellers to endemic areas. Over 1.5 million Australians

travel to JE endemic countries of the Asia Pacific region [4].

    "IMOJEV(R) has shown to provide seroprotection to over 90% adults just 2

weeks after vaccination with one dose which provides strong motive to be

vaccinated before traveling [5]," said Joseph Torresi MD, Head of Travel

Medicine at the Austin Hospital. "There is no specific treatment for JE and

vaccination is the most effective way to be protected."

    The Australian health authorities granted marketing authorization to

IMOJEV(R) vaccine based on the review of clinical studies involving over 4,000

children and adults which demonstrated the safety of IMOJEV(R) vaccine and its

ability to generate a protective immune response with one dose.

    "IMOJEV(R) is an innovative vaccine that confers high-level protection

against Japanese encephalitis with just one dose," said Russell Jacobson,

General Manager of Sanofi Pasteur in Australia. "IMOJEV(R)makes scheduling a

trip in the Asia Pacific region, or other endemic areas, more convenient for

business travellers, tourists and the military alike."

    About IMOJEV(R) vaccine

    IMOJEV(R) vaccine is a live-attenuated JE vaccine indicated for active

immunization of people 12 months and older. The clinical data supporting the

use of IMOJEV(R) in children and in adults have been generated in multi-center

studies conducted in the United States, Australia, Thailand, and the

Philippines with more than 2,400 adults and 2,200 children receiving IMOJEV(R).

The safety and immunogenicity of IMOJEV(R) were compared to a licensed JE

vaccine (JE-VAX(R)) and placebo in adults and to a control vaccine in children.

A pivotal Phase III study in adults showed that a single dose of IMOJEV(R) is

as immunogenic as three doses of JE-VAX(R). A single administration of

IMOJEV(R) elicited a protective level of neutralizing antibodies in

approximately 93% and 99% of adults 14 days and 28 days after vaccine

administration, respectively [5]. Over 84% of adults were still seroprotected 5

years after vaccination [6]. A Phase III study in children showed that

approximately 95% of JE virus naive subjects were seroprotected 28 days after a

single dose of IMOJEV(R)[7]. The vaccine was well tolerated and there was no

indication during the clinical development program of any safety concerns. The

frequency of local and systemic reactions was comparable to those reported

after administration of a placebo or a control vaccine.

    About Japanese encephalitis

    JE is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease is neuro

invasive with inflammation of the brain and its membranes (meninges). Most JE

virus infections are mild (fever and headache) or without apparent symptoms,

but up to 1 to 200 infections results in severe disease characterized by rapid

onset of high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, seizures,

spastic paralysis and death. The case fatality rate is 30-35% among those with

disease symptoms with over 15,000 deaths per year [8]; 50% of those who survive

suffer from lasting damage to the central nervous system. In areas where the JE

virus is common, encephalitis occurs mainly in young children [9].

    About Sanofi

    Sanofi, a global and diversified 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 the broadest 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:

http://www.sanofipasteur.com or http://www.sanofipasteur.us

    1. Erlanger TE, Weiss S, Keiser J, et al. Past, present, and future of

       Japanese encephalitis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009; 15:1-7.

    2. Japanese encephalitis. WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research

       http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/vector/en/index1.html

    3. Hanna JN, Ritchie SA, Phillips DA, et al. Japanese encephalitis in

       north Queensland, Australia, 1998. Medical Journal of Australia 1999;

       170:533-6.

    4. Australian Social Trends September 2010 Australian bureau of statistics

       catalogue no. 4102.0

    5. Torresi J, McCarthy K, Feroldi E, et al. Immunogenicity, safety and

       tolerability in adults of a new single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine

       against Japanese encephalitis: Randomised controlled phase 3 trials.

       Vaccine 2010; 28:7993-8000.

    6. Nasveld PE, Ebringer A, Elmes N, et al. Long term immunity to live

       attenuated Japanese encephalitis chimeric virus vaccine: Randomized,

       double-blind, 5-year phase II study in healthy adults. Hum Vaccin 2010;

       6:1038-46.

    7. Feroldi E, Pancharoen C, Kosalaraksa P, et al. Single-dose,

       live-attenuated Japanese encephalitis vaccine in children aged 12-18

       months: Randomized, controlled phase 3 immunogenicity and safety

       trial. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2012; 8:929-37.

    8. Campbell GL, Hills SL, Fischer M, et al. Estimated global incidence of

       Japanese encephalitis: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ.

       2011; 89:766-74E

    9. United Nations. The United Nations urbanization prospects: the 2005

       revision. POP/DB/WUP/Rev.2005/1/F1. New York: United Nations; 2005.

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    CONTACTS:

    Global Media Relations:

    Pascal Barollier

    T. +33-4-37-37-50-38

    pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com;

    http://www.sanofipasteur.com

    Australia Media Relations:

    Alan Brindell

    T. +61-2-8666-2362

    alan.brindell@sanofi.com

    http://www.sanofipasteur.com.au

    SOURCE: Sanofi Pasteur