The first shipment of ShanIPV(TM), an injectable, inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) will occur this week
ShanIPV(TM) is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur’s affiliate Shantha Biotechnics, in Hyderabad, India and Sanofi has said will soon be available for Indian infants.
India is officially introducing IPV to supplement its oral polio vaccine (OPV) in their national immunisation schedule for infants.
Sanofi Pasteur and its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics will together produce most of India's IPV supply.
Olivier Charmeil, president and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur, said: "With the introduction of IPV in their immunisation schedule, India moves the world much closer to being polio-free.”
Only two countries in the world are still classified as polio endemic, meaning that wild polio virus passes routinely between members of the community.
Charmeil said: "As a company deeply rooted in India, we are very proud that vaccines produced by both Sanofi Pasteur and Shantha will be used in this vital step towards a polio-free world. We have worked as partners of the government of India for many years with this day in mind."