Vaccine Industry Growing Amid Increased Funding, Higher Profits

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 31 Jan 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The Los Angeles Times on Sunday examined "a boom in vaccine discovery and development" prompted by advances in technology, "increased funding and higher profits." In 2006, vaccine manufacturers introduced new vaccines for human papillomavirus, rotavirus and shingles among elderly patients. "As early as the end of the decade, scientists say, there may be new immunizations against herpes simplex and rheumatoid arthritis and a better seasonal flu vaccine," the Times reports. Scientists also are "talking about a potential vaccine within five years to fight malaria," according to the Times. Large pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Pfizer recently have indicated increased interest in development of new vaccines through billions of dollars spent on acquisitions of smaller vaccine manufacturers and expansion of research programs. GSK Biologicals President Jean Stephenne said that he expects the company to introduce five new vaccines within five years and that vaccines will account for 14% of sales by 2010, compared with 6% in 2007. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, said, "It's clear there is a renaissance going on around vaccines. We have made more progress with some (vaccines) in the past few years than we have in the past 30." However, experts said that advances in the development of new vaccines "could stall at any time, and several promising vaccine candidates remain in early clinical trials," the Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 1/28).

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