Industry Watch [to 24 May 2014]
Selected media releases and other selected content from industry.

Media Release: GSK announces new commitment to improve access to vaccines with 5-year price freeze for countries graduating from GAVI Alliance support
20 May 2014
Excerpt
…Speaking today at a European Commission/GAVI Alliance event in Brussels, Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK paid tribute to the GAVI Alliance leadership and its partners including governments, donors, charities and vaccine manufacturers which together have enabled millions of children in the world’s poorest countries to receive innovative, life-saving vaccines.
Sir Andrew Witty said: “The achievements of the GAVI Alliance are remarkable with 6 million lives saved since its formation in 2000. Successful vaccination programmes have no doubt also helped countries to develop in this time. For countries that are doing well and are moving out of GAVI, I’m pleased that we are able to offer governments a price freeze to help ensure that children continue to be protected by national immunisation programmes. At the same time, GSK remains fully committed to supporting GAVI to expand and accelerate access to vaccines for children in the countries that still require the support of the Alliance.”
By 2020, 22 countries with growing economies will graduate from GAVI support. This process allows GAVI to focus resources on the poorest countries, while enabling governments to take increasing responsibility and ownership for vaccination programmes over time. GSK is the first company to commit to maintaining lowest prices for five years as countries take this step, enabling governments to plan for financing the full cost of their immunisation programmes.
“Sustainability is a central pillar in the long-term success of GAVI Alliance-supported vaccine programmes,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance. “GSK is taking strong steps towards supporting developing countries whose growing economies mean they are no longer eligible for Alliance support and is leading the way in longer-term access to low prices for rotavirus, pneumococcal and human papillomavirus vaccines for these countries.”..
GSK is one of the largest contributors of vaccines to the GAVI Alliance, supplying innovative vaccines, such as those for rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and cervical cancer, at significantly reduced prices to help accelerate access in developing countries. GSK has committed to provide more than 850 million vaccine doses that will help protect up to 300 million children and young girls in the developing world by 2024. GSK delivers over 2 million vaccines each day; over a year, 80% of our vaccine doses go to developing countries…