12/24/09
12/24/09 It was announced today that the FDA has given approval to Sanofi Pasteur for High Dose Fluzone. PPR was actively involved (and continues to be involved) in the trials that led to licensure of this important vaccine to prevent influenza in those 65 and over.
It has long been known that the elderly, who are most in need of protection from influenza, are the group who respond most poorly immunologically. From studies done in Europe as well as ongoing studies in the U.S., we now know that "one size" does NOT fit all. Instead, we now have proven that giving the elderly a dose 4 times larger than the standard dose will allow the elderly to be protected with an acceptable safety profile, similar to that seen in younger adults.
Once again, it is with great pride that PPR sees one of our research products reach the stage where it is available to the general public. This continues our work of the past decades during which we at PPR have played a role in virtually every vaccine, pediatric and adult, which is routinely given in the United States.
Mark M. Blatter, M.D.
Medical Director
Primary Physicians Research