Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-aventis, has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with Emcure Pharmaceuticals in India for its anti-rabies vaccine, Verorab. The product will be imported and supplied by Sanofi Pasteur India Pvt Ltd, and marketed and distributed by Emcure via its subsidiary, Zuventus Healthcare. Verorab, a purified Vero cell rabies vaccine, was launched by Sanofi Pasteur in 1987 in India. Since then, more than 25 million doses of Verorab have been distributed in the country.
Dr Joselito Sta Ana, MD & MPH, executive director, Sanofi Pasteur India, said “Over a century after Louis Pasteur invented the world’s first rabies vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur remains committed to its fight against rabies. In India, more than 15 million people are bitten by animals, mostly dogs every year and are at risk of developing rabies if no appropriate post exposure prophylaxis is quickly administered’’.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Mumbai, Satish Mehta, managing director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, said, Verorab, a lifesaving biological, will be the first vaccine product that Emcure Pharmaceuticals will promote and we are extremely optimistic about its prospects. We are committed to prevent rabies by expanding the access to Verorab in the Indian population and creating a long-term partnership with Sanofi Pasteur.” Established in 1983, Emcure develops, manufactures and markets formulations under its own brands in the domestic and international markets.
