Seminar
“The new global economics of vaccines. Will the scientific potential be realised?” - OHE 13th Annual Lecture and Dinner
- Date:
- 30 Nov 06
- Venue:
- Royal College of Physicians
- Outline
- The traditional public health model of vaccine purchase through public tendering to drive down prices and rising regulatory standards was widely seen as hitting innovation, leading to the exit of companies from vaccine research and manufacture.....
- Full Description
- At a global level there were delays of a decade or more before vaccines got from rich to poor countries. Now we see breakthrough new vaccines for developed countries; unprecedented investment in both buying and research for vaccines to tackle developing country diseases, including Hib, malaria and HIV/AIDS; and new entrants into the vaccine industry. The US BioShield initiative and fears of a bird flu pandemic have led to plans for commissioning and stockpiling, and “therapeutic vaccines” are providing new hope for patients and opportunities for companies. So what has changed and does this mean that purchasing arrangements are now in place that will lead to competition to develop and supply a new generation of vaccines?
In this lecture, Jean Stéphenne, President and General Manager of the vaccine unit of GlaxoSmithKline PLC, discussed trends in the science and new economics of vaccines. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals’ (GSK Bio) current portfolio includes the recently launched rotavirus vaccine and an HPV vaccine targeting cervical cancer, a vaccine to prevent pneumococcal disease, an improved flu vaccine for the elderly, and a meningitis combination vaccine; products with application in rich, middle income and poor countries. It also has bird flu vaccines in clinical trials and a malaria vaccine, entering Phase III trials, that is being developed in collaboration with MVI, a product development partnership funded by the Gates Foundation.
Jean Stéphenne was introduced by Professor Patricia Danzon, Celia Moh Professor of Health Care Systems, Insurance and Risk Management, at the Wharton School who set out the economic context of vaccines. She has researched and written extensively on the vaccines and pharmacuetical industry in the US and elsewhere and was a member of the IOM Committee on Malaria Treatment.
