LYON, France, January 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Appointment marks new chapter in vaccine advocacy in Europe

Andrea Rappagliosi, Vice President of Market Access, Health Policy & Medical Affairs at Sanofi Pasteur MSD has been appointed President of Vaccines Europe as of 1st January 2013.  

Vaccines Europe is the group representing vaccine manufacturers within the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the professional association of the European pharmaceutical industry. Its members include established vaccine companies such as Sanofi Pasteur MSD, AstraZeneca, Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Pfizer, Crucell, Abbott, Baxter and MSD.

Sanofi Pasteur MSD is one of the largest vaccines companies in Europe and Andrea Rappagliosi's appointment highlights the calibre and expertise of the new management team that has been brought in by Jean Paul Kress, President of Sanofi Pasteur MSD, since he took over the company in 2011.

"I am strongly supportive of Andrea's Presidency as it reflects our commitment to maintain and strengthen healthcare excellence in Europe for the benefit of people's health and wellbeing" said Jean-Paul Kress, President of Sanofi Pasteur MSD. "Andrea's expertise will boost Vaccines Europe's advocacy focus whilst highlighting Sanofi Pasteur MSD's profile as a clear leader in vaccines in Europe." 

With twenty years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a number of years within the Italian Institutions, Rappagliosi joined Sanofi Pasteur MSD from GlaxoSmithKline in 2012 as Vice President of Market Access, Health Policy & Medical Affairs.  

About Sanofi Pasteur MSD

Sanofi Pasteur MSD is a joint venture between Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of Sanofi, and Merck, known as MSD outside the USA and Canada. Combining innovation and expertise, Sanofi Pasteur MSD is the only company in Europe dedicated exclusively to vaccines. Sanofi Pasteur MSD is able to draw on the research expertise of Sanofi Pasteur and Merck to focus on the development of new vaccines for Europe to improve the acceptability, efficacy and tolerability of vaccination.

About Vaccines Europe

Vaccines Europe (VE) is a specialized group within the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the professional association of the European pharmaceutical industry. Formed in 1991 under the name European Vaccines Manufacturers (EVM), the association set out to improve public health through immunization and promoting R&D of innovative vaccines, Vaccines Europe member companies are major manufacturers of vaccines worldwide, producing the majority of vaccine doses in Europe. VE members are: Abbott Biologicals, AstraZeneca, Baxter, Crucell, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, MSD, Novartis Vaccines, Pfizer, Sanofi Pasteur and Sanofi Pasteur MSD.