IFPMA Vaccine Task Force Funds University Of Cambridge Virus Mapmaker To Help WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;  Flu / Cold / SARS;  IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 29 Apr 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The IFPMA Influenza Vaccine Supply international task force (IFPMA IVS) will grant EUR 200,000 to the Pathogen Evolution Group1 at the University of Cambridge in the UK, to support computerized mapping of the H1N1 and B influenza viruses. The group, recently described as "mapmaker for the world of influenza"2, has already mapped the H3N2 influenza virus. The additional mapping will help the World Health Organization's Global Influenza Surveillance Network (WHO GISN) to visualize how influenza viruses are evolving, and so increase its decision makers' confidence when selecting the influenza strains to be used in vaccines for a coming influenza season. All mapping data resulting from this work will be for WHO GISN use and will not be shared with IFPMA or its IVS members.

Human influenza viruses are continually evolving in a process known as antigenic drift3, which is why an influenza vaccine administered this winter may provide little or no protection next winter. Influenza virus evolution is very complex and mapping it requires highly sophisticated mathematical computerized programming, as well as adequate surveillance data, which is collected, isolated and analyzed by the WHO GISN, comprising National Influenza Centers and International Collaborating Centers.

Dr. Harvey Bale, Director General of the IFPMA, said: "The more closely the antigens in a seasonal vaccine match those in the strains actually circulating during the winter influenza season, the better the protection provided by that vaccine, but predicting what may be circulating 6 months in advance is a challenging task. The mapping work at the University of Cambridge funded by the IFPMA IVS will assist WHO GISN in that task and so help to improve vaccine performance."

"Although seasonal influenza causes three to five million cases of severe illness and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths worldwide each year, the most vulnerable groups - notably the very young, the elderly and certain patient groups - are not adequately vaccinated in most countries. Wider vaccination could also reduce the widespread misery and significant economic cost associated with large numbers of otherwise healthy adults and children spending a week at home in bed," he continued.

The IFPMA IVS grant to the University of Cambridge for antigenic mapping is the latest example of industry support for research work to improve the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines. Other WHO GISN work streams supported by the IFPMA IVS include development of high-growth reassortants, which help to increase vaccine yields and accelerate production. The IFPMA IVS contributes about USD 1.4 million per year for this work, which is done by New York Medical College, USA and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, UK. IFPMA IVS members MedImmune, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics (former Chiron Vaccines) and sanofi pasteur also fund isolation of specific influenza viruses in eggs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, to facilitate large scale egg-based production of the required influenza vaccines.

1. See http://www.antigenic-cartography.org/cam
2. "Mapmaker for the World of Influenza", Science 230:5874, 310-311, 2008
3. For more details on antigenic draft and shift, see here.

About the IFPMA IVS

The IFPMA Influenza Vaccine Supply International Task Force (IVS ITF), established in February 2002, brings together research-based influenza vaccine manufacturers from around the world, which are conducting the R&D necessary to develop safe, effective, high-quality vaccines against avian and pandemic influenza threats. The IVS ITF works to address the advocacy, communication, policymaking, regulatory, scientific and technical issues related to interpandemic and pandemic influenza vaccines.

http://www.ifpma.org