Sanofi Pasteur’s pediatric vaccine Hexaxim launch in India

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines global business unit of Sanofi, has launched India’s first innovative ready-to-use fully liquid 6-in-1 vaccine – Hexaxim. The vaccine, indicated for primary and booster vaccination of infants and toddlers from six weeks to 24 months of age, provides protection against 6 major childhood diseases –

• diphtheria
• tetanus
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• polio
• haemophilus influenza B
• hepatitis B.

The burden of the 6 diseases is significant, particularly in infants. Consequently, the WHO and the wide majority of countries around the world recommend vaccination against these diseases. India, under the Universal Immunization Programme, also offers protection against these 6 major diseases.

Globally, Hexaxim is the only combination vaccine with acellular pertussis (acP) and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) to have received a prequalification by the WHO. Today, the vaccine protects infants in more than 60 countries, with 20+ million doses distributed worldwide.

Hexaxim, during its clinical study assessment, was found to be safe and well tolerated as a primary series and booster vaccination in all schedules, countries, and ethnicities tested. Each dose of Hexaxim takes 24 to 36 months to be manufactured, of which 70% of the time is spent on quality tests. Sanofi Pasteur, a pioneer in the field of pediatric vaccines, has leveraged on its wealth of expertise in manufacturing complex combination vaccines to develop the world’s first fully liquid hexavalent vaccine.