Manufacturers come together to identify gaps in vaccine R&D in Europe

In addition, a working group, set up recently, will formulate an agenda for action to pave the way for putting in place a permanent infrastructure securing vaccine R&D and manufacturing in Europe.

A separate meeting will be organised with European regulatory authorities to discuss how their contributions can be integrated into the activities of this working group.

European Vaccine Initiative executive director Odile Leroy said that it is of paramount importance that a permanent infrastructure is established to ensure the continuing competitiveness of the European vaccine community.

In 2009, the European Commission funded the Transvac project, which is now established as an open platform for vaccine R&D. Transvac is comprised of numerous European groups who provide a complementary portfolio of vaccine-related expertise and technologies to European researchers in order to accelerate the development of new vaccines. At the end of October 2010 the project will enter into a new phase and offer external European groups access to its expertise and technologies.

Sanofi-Pasteur Public Affairs VP and European Vaccine Manufacturers representative Michael Watson said that successful vaccination is only possible through successful partnership of all those involved from discovery to the person that uses the vaccine. European Vaccine Manufacturers fully supports any initiative that will strengthen that partnership and ensure that more vaccines get to more people who can benefit as quickly as possible.

EVI acts as a coordinator for numerous vaccine development projects funded by the European Commission, including Transvac.