“Sanofi’s flu vaccine is different...has 100-year legacy"

Guan Lee Ang, Country Medical Lead at Sanofi Korea

Sanofi makes unexpected strides in the flu vaccine market with Vaxigrip Tetra

Makes first bid to NIP...increased competitiveness by increasing supply and early shipments

“The only vaccine to confirm efficacy and safety in high-risk groups through a clinical trial”

Sanofi has been making unexpected strides in Korea's flu (influenza) vaccine market this year.

 

The company has not only made a bid for the National Immunization Program (NIP) for the first time this year, but it also started supplying its flu vaccines exceptionally quickly.

 

Multinational pharmaceutical companies usually start the supply of their flu vaccines in October every year due to the longer time required for their release in Korea.

 

However, Sanofi received the approval to release their vaccines at the same time as domestic vaccines and started distributing in mid-August.

 

Its supply price is also not so different from domestic flu vaccines.

 

Sanofi's unprecedented move is not unrelated to this year’s influenza outlook.

 

This year, influenza, which had been on the low side due to COVID-19, is predicted to rise for the first time in 3 years this year.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a nationwide influenza warning last month.

 

According to KDCA, the proportion of suspected flu patients per 1,000 people on the 39th week (September 18th-24th) was 4.9, exceeding the epidemic standards.

 

In particular, Type A H3N2, which is expected to become the dominant strain this year is a successor of the ‘Hong Kong Flu,’ and is known as one of the most virulent strains.

 

This is why the KDCA has been actively encouraging flu vaccinations.

 

Although the 9 types of quadrivalent flu vaccines distributed in Korea are thought to have similar prevention effects, a closer look shows that there are differences.

 

Some vaccines cannot be administered to infants or patients with cardiovascular diseases.

 

Also, domestic vaccines can be administered to pregnant women, but their safety has not been demonstrated through clinical trials.

 

Vaxigrip Tetra (Sanofi) and Fluarix Tetra (GSK) are the only flu vaccines that can be administered in all high-risk groups.

 

This is why Sanofi, which is standing at the same level as domestic companies in terms of price, supply timing, and amount, is showing confidence this time.

 

During an interview with Daily Pharm, Guan Lee Ang, Country Medical Lead at Sanofi Korea, said, “With over 100 years of history in developing vaccines, Sanofi owns a vaccine portfolio for over 20 types of infectious diseases.

 

Our quadrivalent flu vaccine, ‘Vaxigrip Tetra,’ has verified safety and immunogenicity with robust clinical data.

 

Vaxigrip Tetra’s differentiated strength lies in how it is the only vaccine to have verified efficacy and safety in the high-risk group.”

Guan Lee Ang, Country Medical Lead at Sanofi Korea

The high-risk group, infants over 6 years of age, pregnant women, cardiovascular patients, etc., are known to be at 10 times higher risk of acute myocardial infarction and at 8 times higher risk of strokes when infected with influenza.

 

Infants and children are also at high risk of pneumonia as a related complication.

 

Influenza infection can also lead to death, and an estimated 70-85% of those deaths were observed in patients over the age of 65.

 

Clinical trial results showed that influenza infections from vaccine-like virus strain were reduced by 68%, and infection from all A&B types of influenza virus was reduced by 72% in infants aged between 6 months to 35 months when vaccinated with Vaxigrip Tetra.

 

The risk of influenzas infection in pregnant women was also reduced by up to 72%.

 

Also, the study showed vaccination was related to a reduction in the mortality rate in patients with myocardial infarction or high-risk coronary artery disease.

 

The problem lies in the low public awareness of the need to receive influenza vaccines.

 

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, people have been receiving vaccinations every 3 to 6 months, which led to increased fatigue over vaccinations and decreased reliability.

 

Also, some are expecting influenza to not spread as much due to the small number of flu patients and the cultural specificity of how people are continuing to wear masks even after the mandatory outdoor mask regulation was lifted, In response, Sanofi's Vaccine Division is concentrating on reinforcing flu awareness.

 

While carrying out a campaign to raise awareness of influenza among the general public, the company plans to hold a webinar for healthcare professionals on the preventive benefits of vaccinations based on clinical data.

 

Ang said, “65% of employees in the vaccine division serve in departments related to quality testing, and most of the vaccine production period is devoted to quality testing.

 

Also, we are working with distributors who have established thorough cold chains to stably supply our high-quality products.

 

We will continue to strive to improve access to influenza vaccines for high-risk groups and improve public health in Korea.”