vaccine research with marc laforce (npf vaccine webinar series)

National Press Foundation Vaccine Webinar Series

VACCINE RESEARCH

Dr. Marc LaForce November 29, 2011

Vaccine Research

A new meningitis vaccine for Africa

Vaccine Webinar Series

National Press Foundation November 29, 2011

Marc LaForce, PATH

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The road to a new vaccine

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Vaccine manufacturers Five Pharma firms (US/Eur)

• Profitable companies • Charge high prices for new vaccines • Concentrate on low-volume rich world markets

Emerging suppliers

• Traditionally sell older, less complex vaccines • High-volume and low-margin markets • Interest in developing more complex (higher

margin) vaccines

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Problems for vaccines aimed at developing country problems

Development of new vaccines controlled by

Pharma and aimed at products with market potential

Very slow introduction of new products to developing countries

Hepatitis B vaccine HiB conjugate vaccine

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Meningitis in Sub-Saharan Africa

• Over 90 percent of global meningococcal disease occurs in the African meningitis belt

• Attacks children, young adults and infants

• One third of meningitis cases die (10%) or are disabled (23%)

• One strain (Group A Nm) accounts for estimated 80% of all meningococcal cases.

• Epidemics occur every year

• Poorest countries in the world

• New vaccine cost is critical to sustainability

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•The “intensive care unit” of Africa

•Individuals are treated where they fall

•Very few hospitals in this region; makeshift clinics are established when needs arise

Small clinic for meningitis patients

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Serum Institute of India Ltd. (SIIL)

Largest “emerging supplier” World’s largest producer of measles and DTP Two-thirds of the world’s immunized children are vaccinated by a vaccine

manufactured by SIIL

Partnered with the Meningitis Vaccine Project to develop an affordable

(< $US 0.50 per dose) vaccine designed specifically for Africa to protect against

meningococcal meningitis

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2010 introduction of MenAfriVac™

20 million people in Burkina Faso (100%), Mali (50%), and Niger (50%) vaccinated

In 2011 in Burkina Faso: Lowest number of reported cases of

meningitis Not a single case of meningitis A in

individuals vaccinated with MenAfriVac™ Group immunity established with use of the

vaccine

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The Meningitis Vaccine Project

mlaforce@path.org

www.meningvax.org

National Press Foundation Vaccine Webinar Series

VACCINE RESEARCH

Q&A

Dr. Marc LaForce November 29, 2011