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Friday, December 4, 2015

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, has unveiled ShanIPV, an injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) manufactured by its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics, Hyderabad.

Telangana Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday launched the made in India, trivalent inactivated IPV. Both Sanofi Pasteur and Shantha will provide the majority of vaccine doses needed for the introduction of the IPV by India in the Universal Immunisation Programme by end of 2016.

The vaccines – Imovax Polio of Sanofi Pasteur besides ShanIPV are to be delivered to the country through UNICEF. Announcing this, a release from Sanofi said that with India poised to progress to the next and final step of polio eradication, the final elimination of all vaccine-related and vaccine-derived polio viruses, ShanIPV will make its contribution.

Managing Director-India and Vice President-South Asia of Sanofi Shailesh Ayyangar said: “With the introduction of IPV in the immunisation schedule, our company is playing a key role in achieving the goal of a polio-free world.”

Country Head-Vaccines of Sanofi Pasteur, India Jean-Pierre Baylet welcomed the Centre’s decision to introduce IPV in the immunisation programme to eliminate the risk of polio virus resurgence. In line with the WHO’s global endgame strategy, India is introducing one dose of IPV at 14 weeks of age. The IPV is to be given in addition to the existing oral polio vaccine.

Executive Director and CEO of Shantha Biotechnics Mahesh Bhalgat said: “We will manufacture massive quantities of high-quality, safe and efficacious IPV vaccines to meet all the milestones in the timeline set by the Indian Government.” The IPV is approved for use in the Indian market. The primary focus is to supply doses to Indian population, the release said.