Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis, said on Monday its ActHIB vaccine would be available on the Japanese paediatric vaccine market from 19 December.
It will be marketed by Daiichi-Sankyo. The company said the World Health Organization estimated that HIB is responsible for three million serious illnesses and an estimated 400,000 deaths per year worldwide, mainly caused by meningitis and pneumonia.
Almost all victims are children under the age of five, those between four months and 18 months of age being especially vulnerable.
Every year in Japan, about 500 children are affected by the disease, of whom around 25 die and 100 suffer from serious reoccurences.
By Marcel Michelson, Reuters.
