Great result for us overall with 8.9% human vaccines growth up...

Great result for us overall with 8.9% human vaccines growth up 8.9%, not bad for an absolutely shocking quarter. Their strength through these times will line our pockets well :))


http://en.sanofi-aventis.com/binaries/20090211_res2008_en_tcm28-23953.pdf

Human Vaccines
Fourth-quarter consolidated net sales for the Human Vaccines business were up 8.9% at €709 million, with full-
year growth reaching 9.6% at €2,861 million. In the United States, 2008 full-year net sales were up 9.7% at
€1,683 million.
Net sales of influenza vaccines in 2008 rose 1.5% to €736 million. This increase includes the shipment during
the second quarter of a batch of H5N1 vaccine to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services worth
$192.5 million (vs. $113 million in 2007). Fourth-quarter sales of influenza vaccines in the United States were
down compared to previous year, as three-quarters of 2008 shipments were completed during the third quarter
of the year.
Net sales of Menactra® (quadrivalent meningococcal meningitis vaccine) rose 7.9% in 2008 at €404 million.
Pentacel® -- the first 5-in-1 pediatric combination vaccine to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio
and haemophilus influenzae type b licensed in the United States-- confirmed its success with strong sales
uptake promptly after its launch in July 2008, reaching net sales of €56 million in the fourth quarter and €82
million in 2008.
Adacel® (adult and adolescent tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster) continued to perform very well in the
United States, up 35.6% in the fourth quarter to €54 million and by 20.0% for the year, reaching €255 million.
Sales of Act-Hib® increased by 19.9% reaching €120 million in 2008, driven by the significant commercial and
industrial effort to provide additional doses to the US market during competitor’s supply shortage combined with
Act-Hib® launch in Japan in November 2008.
2008 sales growth was also driven by the uptake of Pentaxim® -- another 5-in-1 pediatric combo vaccine,
which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and haemophilus influenzae type b -- in the “other
countries” region.