The vaccines unit of French pharmaceutical company
Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY, SAN.FR) said tests of the company's
U.S.-licensed swine-flu vaccine show children under 10 will require
two doses to be safely protected from the illness.
Sanofi Pasteur said while data show a single 15-microgram dose
"may protect many children," the study suggests "two doses of
vaccine will be required for "optimal protection" of children under
10. It added however, that the extra dose "is consistent with the
recommendations for seasonal influenza immunization in children of
this age."
The data, from a study of 474 children, involved two groups -
229 children aged 6 months through 35 months; and 245 children 3 to
9 years old.
The update comes two weeks after Sanofi Pasteur said the
company's U.S.-licensed swine-flu vaccine produced a "robust"
immune response on adult test subjects, even those over the age of
65.
The ultimate findings will be used to determine the recommended
dosages and schedule for the vaccine, which was licensed by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sept. 15.
The swine flu, or H1N1 influenza virus, began spreading rapidly
earlier this year and nearly 4,000 people globally have been
recorded to have died from the virus. The World Health Organization
has declared it a pandemic, and vaccine makers and health officials
have been working quickly to make vaccines against the virus
available to as many people as possible.
In early trading Wednesday, Sanofi's American Depositary Shares
were up 2.4% at $39.75.
-By Mike Barris, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2330;
mike.barris@dowjones.com