Free Republic

Sanofi Pasteur is eliminating regional jobs as its corporate parent pursues cost- cutting moves. Sanofi, a vaccine maker in Swiftwater, Monroe County, that employs 2,200 people in the region, declined to disclose how many people will be affected. The layoffs start later this month and will continue for two years, spokeswoman Ellyn Schindler said. "For some people who are likely to be impacted, they are trying to find other positions in the company," she said. The layoffs occur as Sanofi-Aventis, the French pharmaceutical giant and parent of the local company, slashes expenses ahead of the expiration of patent protection on...

800,000 Doses Of Kids' H1N1 Vaccine Recalled ATLANTA (CBS) ― Health officials are recalling hundreds of thousands of doses of swine flu vaccine after tests indicated they may not be potent enough to protect against the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified doctors about the recall Tuesday. The recall involves about 800,000 doses made by Sanofi Pasteur. The doses are pre-filled syringes intended for young children, ages 6 months to almost three years. Health officials recommend children those ages get two doses, spaced about a month apart. Health officials say it's not clear how many doses have...

SWIFTWATER -- Swiftwater-based Sanofi Pasteur, formerly Aventis Pasteur, is threatening to transfer future development at its Monroe County site to foreign countries if the state does not commit $40 million for a sewer project the company says it needs to expand. In a letter to Gov. Ed Rendell, Sanofi Pasteur warned that without additional sewer infrastructure, future expansions -- specifically the expansion of a $160 million flu vaccine production plant -- would shift to company locations in Canada or France. Such a transfer would cost the region future jobs and potential new contracts, the company said in the letter. "Without...