Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Pharmaceuticals

Sanofi Pasteur

Sanofi Pasteur is the vaccines division of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Sanofi Pasteur is the vaccines division of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. It develops, manufactures, and markets vaccines for a wide range of infectious diseases, including influenza, polio, and meningitis.

What it is

Sanofi Pasteur is Sanofi’s global vaccines business unit and one of the world’s largest vaccine producers. Its portfolio covers vaccines for children, adolescents, and adults, targeting diseases such as influenza, polio, meningitis, yellow fever, rabies, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

Why it matters

As a major vaccine supplier, Sanofi Pasteur plays a key role in public health, including in Canada, where Sanofi Pasteur Limited is a significant vaccine provider. Its products help prevent outbreaks and support routine immunization programs worldwide.

Key details

Headquartered in Lyon, France, Sanofi Pasteur traces its roots to Louis Pasteur’s research and earlier organizations like Pasteur-Mérieux and Aventis Pasteur. It was renamed in 2004 after the Sanofi-Aventis merger. The division operates globally, with production and distribution networks spanning multiple countries.

In short

  • Sanofi Pasteur is Sanofi’s vaccines division and a top global vaccine producer.
  • Its portfolio includes vaccines for influenza, polio, meningitis, and many other diseases.
  • Headquartered in Lyon, France, it has a history linked to Louis Pasteur and Mérieux.
  • It is a major vaccine supplier in Canada through Sanofi Pasteur Limited.
Canadian angle

Sanofi Pasteur has long been relevant in Canada through vaccine supply and operations in the Canadian market, and one source identifies Sanofi Pasteur Limited as a major vaccine supplier in Canada.

Quick questions

What is Sanofi Pasteur?
Sanofi Pasteur is Sanofi’s vaccines division that develops, manufactures, and sells vaccines.
What vaccines does Sanofi Pasteur make?
Its portfolio includes vaccines for influenza, meningitis, polio, yellow fever, rabies, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
Where is Sanofi Pasteur located?
Its headquarters are in Lyon, France.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanofi_Pasteur
    Supports: States that Sanofi Pasteur is Sanofi’s vaccines division, gives headquarters in Lyon, and describes it as devoted entirely to vaccines.
  2. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanofi_Pasteur
    Supports: States that Sanofi Pasteur is part of Sanofi, gives its headquarters as Paris in the French-language article, and notes its vaccine scope; used with caution because it conflicts with other sources on headquarters.
  3. Devex — https://www.devex.com/organizations/sanofi-pasteur-56641
    Supports: Describes Sanofi Pasteur as a vaccines global business unit with a broad portfolio including influenza and other vaccines, and notes its heritage.
  4. Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium — https://mtec-sc.org/life-sciences/sanofi-pasteur-a-sanofi-company
    Supports: Identifies Sanofi Pasteur as a Sanofi company and lists influenza vaccines among its products; also gives Lyon, France as the location.
  5. Sanofi — https://pro.campus.sanofi/sa/influenza/articles/our-heritage
    Supports: Lists vaccine categories in Sanofi Pasteur’s portfolio, including influenza and other infectious diseases.
  6. Mynewsdesk — https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/sanofi/pressreleases/aventis-pasteur-the-vaccine-division-of-the-sanofi-aventis-group-changes-its-name-to-sanofi-pasteur-78044
    Supports: Announces the renaming of Aventis Pasteur to Sanofi Pasteur and states that its headquarters are in Lyon, France.
  7. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanofi
    Supports: States that Sanofi is a French multinational pharmaceutical company and that Sanofi Pasteur is its vaccines subsidiary.
  8. Studocu — https://www.studocu.com/en-ca/document/centennial-college/professional-practice/company-101/87351711
    Supports: Contains secondary material about Sanofi Pasteur in Canada, including references to Sanofi Pasteur Limited and its role as a vaccine supplier in Canada; use cautiously because it is not a primary source.