Sanofi has announced the launch of its inactivated rabies vaccine, Verorab, in the UK for all age groups with pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies.
Licensed in the UK since November 2023, the launch of Verorab was based on extensive clinical data from over 13,000 individuals.
Responsible for an estimated 59,000 global deaths every year, rabies is a rare, neurotrophic virus that can be transmitted via the saliva of an infected animal, 99% of which are by dogs.
Used both as a primary and booster vaccination, the pre-exposure vaccination consists of intramuscular injections of Verorab, while post-exposure prophylaxis can be administered via intramuscular or intradermal routes.
The vaccine contains the active ingredient, rabies virus, to help prevent rabies infection in people who have been exposed to the virus by causing the body to produce its own antibodies against the virus.
In pre-exposure prophylaxis clinical trials, the three-dose regimen of Verorab, followed by a booster dose after one year in adults and children, achieved an adequate immune response.
In those who received the booster dose at one year, 96.9% of vaccinated individuals maintained a protective antibody response for a further ten years.
In phase 4 post-exposure clinical trials, individuals bitten by animals with rabies and treated with a five-dose regiment of Verorab were all alive three years after post-exposure prophylaxis, with moderate adverse reactions resolving within one to three days of onset.
Already approved and widely used in more than 80 countries, it is estimated that up to 70 million people have received the vaccine since its first licensure in France in 1985.
Rebecca Catterick, Sanofi vaccines general manager, UK and Ireland, commented: “The availability of Verorab in the UK provides an effective immunisation option for those travelling to high-risk countries, as well as a treatment for post-rabies exposure.”
Individuals who are travelling to countries including Asia and Africa, where approximately 85% of deaths from rabies occur, should take the appropriate precautionary measures and be aware of the risks of the virus.
Joanna Lowry, specialist travel nurse and educator, said: “Increasing awareness and sharing education on preventative measures is crucial to help reduce the possibility of this devastating disease.”