French healthcare company Sanofi S.A. (Euronext Paris:SAN) (Nasdaq:SNY) on Monday announced new results from the FLUNITY-HD study, published in The Lancet, confirming that its high-dose influenza vaccine, Efluelda (Fluzone High-Dose in North America), offers significantly greater protection against hospitalisations in adults aged 65 and older compared to standard-dose vaccines.

The large-scale, individually randomised study included 466,320 participants across Denmark and Spain, making it the largest influenza vaccine effectiveness trial conducted in older adults. Efluelda demonstrated a 31.9% additional reduction in laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalisations and 8.8% greater protection against pneumonia or influenza-related hospitalisations versus standard-dose vaccines.

Additional findings showed a 6.3% reduction in cardio-respiratory hospitalisations and 2.2% fewer all-cause hospitalisations, equating to one fewer hospitalisation for every 515 older adults vaccinated with Efluelda instead of standard-dose formulations.

Noting that older adults account for up to 70% of flu hospitalisations, Sanofi's global head of Medical for Vaccines, Dr. Bogdana Coudsy, said that the company's high-dose vaccine could reduce healthcare costs, ease system pressures, and support independence among seniors.

These results build on 15 years of clinical evidence covering more than 45 million older adults.