2023-09-14 08:45:02
In the Sanofi distribution center in Val-de-Reuil, near Rouen, the gun goes off at the beginning of September. The start of the school year promises to be busy for the Normandy factory: in addition to the traditional preparations of flu vaccine packages, this season there will be shipments of Beyfortus, the laboratory’s new preventive treatment against bronchiolitis, intended for infants. « The first doses are being sent to maternity wards »explains Sanofi’s France vaccines director, Charles Wolf, showing, a few meters away, pallets where several boxes are stacked ready to leave.
« Thanks to the mobilization of our teams and health authorities, we will make this treatment available one year in advance. France will be one of the first countries to benefit from it », he rejoices. Developed in partnership with the Swedish-British AstraZeneca, which produces it in the United States, this monoclonal antibody against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis, was initially expected for 2024 due to price negotiation delays. with the authorities.
After the bronchiolitis epidemic which hit France and put pressure on hospital services last winter, the State however preferred to accelerate. Deviating from the classic plan, an order for 200,000 doses, equivalent to a coverage rate of 40% of newborns eligible for an injection during the epidemic season, was placed by Public Health France to guarantee the arrival of the treatment from 2023. Pre-filled syringes will be offered from September 15 in maternity hospitals and pharmacies.
First to arrive, Sanofi hopes to take advantage of this opportunity to establish itself in this new market after the missed appointment of Covid-19. In recent months, the manufacturer has worked hard to ensure the success of this launch, contacting all of the nearly five hundred maternity hospitals in the region to assess their needs and adjust delivery volumes. Almost all of them have placed an order. It now remains to be seen whether parents will adhere to this new optional injection. « It will not be a success if only 50,000 or 100,000 of the 200,000 doses made available are used. »recognizes Thomas Triomphe, executive vice-president in charge of Sanofi’s vaccines activity.
“Different strategies and products”
The stakes are high for the group. « We want to build the most advanced respiratory syncytial virus franchise in the entire industry. Beyfortus is the first tool available, but our long-term ambition is to also prevent infections in children over 1 year old and in seniors »specifies Mr. Triomphe.
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