Executive VP of Sanofi Pasteur David Loew: To Introduce More Innovative Vaccines to China Market

David Loew, Sanofi Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Pasteur

The China Preventive Medical Association (CPMA) and Sanofi Pasteur jointly announced recently the signing of the Memorandum for the Cooperation Program on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (hereinafter referred to as the Memo) in Beijing. This three-year Cooperation Program aims on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases to promote vaccines as effective measures and approaches for improving life expectancy and quality of life, and the important roles and values of vaccines in contributing to achieving the Healthy China 2030 goals and tackling public health challenges. After the meeting at which the Memorandum of Understanding was signed, Sanofi Executive Vice President and Head of Sanofi Pasteur, David Loew, gave an interviewed with the People.cn. He expressed his view that the Healthy China 2030 plan offers a new opportunity for vaccine companies. Sanofi Pasteur will continue to strive to increase vaccination rates and introduce more innovative vaccines to China so that even more people can reap the benefits.

Reporter: What is the objective of the cooperation between Sanofi Pasteur and the Chinese Preventative Medicine Association?

David Loew: We've already been cooperating with the Chinese Preventative Medicine Association for a great many years, but this signing of the Memorandum of Understanding ensures that our cooperation will continue and its scope will be broadened. One aspect is that we shall join up to develop academic and scientific research, as vaccines’ strong proof in health protection. Another aspect is that we want to build a learning platform, thus promoting the improvement and development of immunization and vaccination technologies. With the exception of clean, safe drinking water, no human endeavor rivals immunization in combatting infectious diseases and reducing mortality rates. Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health-care investments available. We will also work with the Chinese Preventative Medicine Association to carry out the vaccine development, evaluation and follow-up in China, and I think the scientific data will prove to be useful to medical organizations.

Reporter: What are the new vaccines launch plan globally? Are you planning to launch any new vaccines in China? What about dengue, will that be launched in China market?

David Loew: The country has launched the Healthy China 2030 and as a company we are very willing to see what we can offer. Hopefully, these innovations, including hugely significant vaccines and products, will come to China even faster, thereby benefiting a large number of patients and the general Chinese population.

Examples are RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine, as well as our new flu vaccine. These are very significant products and vaccines; if we can get these onto the market in China that would have a huge effect. For one of our new flu vaccines, an quadrivalent influenza vaccine: Flublok® (Influenza Vaccine), the only recombinant protein-based influenza vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Protein Sciences has developed and commercialized Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine, a recombinant influenza vaccine indicated for active immunization of adults 18 years of age and older against seasonal influenza. Moreover, there are some under research and development, and vaccines currently in the process of applying for market authorization, such as the vaccine against the hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection, and a new meningitis vaccine, as well as a booster tetanus and diphtheria immunization for both children and adults. In China, we've already filed an application to the CFDA for the registration approval of a booster vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria.

Pentamix, the combination vaccine for the new babies is very popular with parents. By combining five vaccines into one, the vaccine reduces the number of injections, improving comfort and vaccination compliance for infants and reducing parental anxiety. In the future, combination vaccines will continue to be developed, for example, the combination with RSV and pneumococcal vaccines.

The world 1st Dengue vaccine, as everyone knows, was developed and launched by Sanofi Pasteur. It is now available in 18 countries worldwide. We also plan to summit for approval in China. In addition to this, we're currently making preparations and doing epidemiology research in the south of China, to provide the proof for disease burden that has been brought by dengue fever.

Reporter: The Chinese government recently announced the Healthy China 2030 vision. Prevention is an important part of Healthy China 2030. Will this vision bring further opportunities for Sanofi Pastuer? What is the development strategy of Sanofi Pasteur in China?

David Loew: Healthy China 2030 is an incredibly significant initiative, which prevention is emphasized as one of the key schemes. It means great opportunities for the company. Meanwhile, Healthy China 2030 it also means to there is a need for new innovative effective vaccines, which hopefully can be produced locally. We believe that the whole healthcare system will see great improvements and modernization, with more vaccines available to the Chinese people, including more vaccines to be introduced to the National Expanded Immunization Programs. It is as well a good opportunity for the company.

Our priority and focus will be on the improvement of the proportion for pediatric vaccines, and expanding market access for flu vaccines, as well increasing flu vaccination rates. Moreover, we hope to accelerate the registration and launch for the innovative vaccines in China market. This includes the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine, the booster tetanus and diphtheria vaccine, and two new types of flu vaccines.

Reporter: In your opinion, what's the difference between China market and the developed Western countries regarding vaccine business?

David Loew: Actually, the market in China has several notable differences compared with that of other developed countries. One is concerning the structure and competitive patterns within the market. Vaccines in China are divided into public market, and private market. Public market is mainly dominated by local players; this is not the case at all in other developed countries. The other one is that China's vaccine market is developing extremely quickly; we expect that in 10 years' time it will be the second largest vaccine market in the world thanks to China's huge population and its corresponding huge potential for vaccination. The third one involves the framework by which the government monitors vaccinations. China has some notable differences compared with other countries, especially concerning imported vaccines by multinational corporations. If they want to launch in the Chinese market they need to firstly obtain a vaccine import license and then the vaccine must undergo clinical trial in China. For this reason, it takes a relatively long time for vaccines available overseas to be launched on the Chinese market. Recently the Chinese government has been working on accelerating the registration and approval process for chemical drugs. However, it seems that regarding vaccines, the same measures have not been adopted. We expect that in the near future the timing for introduction of new vaccine products to the Chinese market would be accelerated.