Sanofi Pasteur posts 8.3% growth despite 2017 vaccine setbacks

Importantly in the fourth quarter, issues with the world's first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, cost the company €158 million ($193 million), CFO Jérôme Contamine said on a conference call accompanying the company's results. The drugmaker disclosed in November that an analysis found that the vaccine can cause more serious infections if given to people who haven't had prior exposure to the virus.  

Shortly afterward, the Philippines stopped vaccinations and asked for a refund of unused shots. Sanofi complied and bought back €19 million ($23 million) in doses, according to Wednesday's earnings release. The drugmaker also took an inventory impairment charge of €87 million ($106 million).  

Those issues hurt the drugmaker's fourth-quarter EPS, which fell 8.8% to €1.06 ($1.30). Dengvaxia sales for the year crashed 98% to €3 million ($3.68 million).