Sanofi's
(
SNY
) vaccines division, Sanofi Pasteur recently announced that the
European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given a positive opinion on its
vaccine Hexaxim ((DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB vaccine). The positive opinion
was issued by the EMA as part of a procedure to evaluate products
for marketing outside EU. This was the first time the EMA issued a
positive scientific opinion to a vaccine under the procedure.
The EMA issued the positive opinion for approving the fully
liquid Hexaxim vaccine for the protecting infants against six
diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, namely:
diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B,
poliomyelitis and invasive infections.
Hexaxim, by targeting six diseases at the same time, reduces the
number of vaccinations required by infants thereby facilitating
better comfort and compliance.
The EMA's positive opinion was based on safety and efficacy data
from trials involving approximately 4,000 infants across Argentina,
Peru, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand. Hexaxim demonstrated
impressive immune response against all the six targeted diseases in
the phase III studies. Additionally, the vaccine was found to be
safe.
Sanofi possesses one of the world's leading vaccine operations,
with total vaccines sales of €617 million in the first quarter of
2012. The company's portfolio includes pediatric vaccines,
influenza vaccines, adult and adolescent booster vaccines,
meningitis vaccines, and travel and endemic vaccines. Sanofi also
has a strong position in both seasonal and pre-pandemic influenza
vaccines.
Our Recommendation
We are pleased with the company's efforts to develop its
pipeline. We expect Sanofi to continue to contain operating costs
in order to increase earnings in the face of weakening sales of
some of its key drugs. We also expect the company to pursue bolt on
acquisitions.
We currently have a Neutral recommendation on Sanofi. The stock
carries a Zacks #3 Rank (Hold rating) in the short run.
SANOFI-AVENTIS (SNY): Free Stock Analysis
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