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The development of even more effective, easier to administer and better tolerated vaccines

Extending vaccination coverage throughout the world requires research to improve vaccine efficacy and the vaccination process for example, by reducing the number of injections, or by creating new methods of administration.

Our objective is to protect the maximum number of children with a minimum number of effective vaccinations against diseases which can be prevented through immunization.

In 1993, we made a major breakthrough with the licensing in Europe of the first pentavalent vaccine. This vaccine is effective against five infantile diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and Haemophilus B infections responsible for meningitis and septicemia). In October 2000, a first fully liquid hexavalent vaccine, developed in partnership with Merck an Co., has been registered in some European countries. This vaccine protects children and infants against diphteria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus infuenzae type b infections.

Further developments will be under taken on this product to enablelicensing in the international area.

Aventis Pasteur also develops new technologies in support of its Research and Development projects to elaborate more efficient vaccines. This includes new adjuvants and delivery systems, live vectors (virus or bacteria), DNA vaccines and genomics - based approaches to identify target antigens.