Sanofi starts Ph II C. Difficile vaccine study

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of leading French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis, says it is sponsoring a Phase II clinical study of a  vaccine against Clostridium difficile, which is among the most common  causes of hospital-acquired infection in Europe and North America.

The trial currently conducted in the UK is investigating the safety and  efficacy of the company's C. difficile candidate vaccine. While the  target indication is primary prevention of C. difficile infection, this  trial in infected patients aims to provide early proof-of-concept of the  vaccine approach to CDI.

Sanofi Pasteur's candidate vaccine uses a toxoid-based approach, which  has been used extensively in the firm's licensed vaccines against  tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. This vaccine has successfully  completed Phase I trials in more than 200 participants to evaluate its  safety and immunogenicity.