Private sector makes new pledges to support childhood immunisation in developing countries – – Gavi Press Release
Vaccine manufacturers and private firms set out commitments ahead of major Gavi conference
[Press release excerpts]
Berlin, 26 January 2015 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance today welcomed new commitments from a number of private sector partners towards its mission to immunise children in developing countries…

…“It is encouraging to see vaccine manufacturers increasingly recognising the importance of sustainable vaccine markets for developing countries,” said Gavi CEO Dr Seth Berkley. “The commitments made today will help us make more vaccine doses available at a lower cost and will support countries as they move towards financing and sustaining their own immunisation programmes. This will lead to more children being protected and more deaths being averted.”

Commitments
The following commitments were announced today.
:: Biological E is offering a five-year price commitment to Gavi graduated countries for its pentavalent vaccine.
:: GSK extended it price freeze commitment so that developing countries that graduate from Gavi support will be able to continue to purchase vaccines against pneumonia, diarrhoea and cervical cancer at significantly discounted Gavi prices for a decade after graduation. GSK also reaffirmed that if the company identifies new manufacturing efficiencies that reduce the costs of producing these vaccines, it will pass those savings on to Gavi and its donor.
:: Janssen reaffirmed its pledge of making its pentavalent vaccine available at UNICEF prices to Gavi graduated countries over the next five years. Janssen also announced the launch of its pentavalent vaccine in cPAD, a compact Prefilled Auto-Disable injection system which helps improve injection safety.
:: Panacea Biotech extends its pledge, first made in June 2011, to support all Gavi graduated countries by offering a five-year price freeze on all vaccination programmes started with Gavi support. The price freeze commences from the first calendar year during which a country stops receiving Gavi support.
:: Pfizer agreed to reduce the price per dose for its pneumococcal vaccine, from US$ 3.30 per dose to US$ 3.10 per dose for the new 4-dose vial presentation, which is expected to be introduced under the Advance Market Commitment programme in 2016. This new lower price will be extended to all Gavi-eligible and graduated countries until the end of 2025.
:: Sanofi Pasteur committed to expand the production of yellow fever vaccine to address chronic shortages, and promised to offer Gavi-level pricing for Gavi graduated countries until the end of 2018. The company will also continue to contribute to the polio endgame by providing inactivated polio vaccine to Gavi countries for delivery in routine immunisation. The company also announced the expansion of its EPIVAC vaccinator training programme in Nigeria, in collaboration with Agence de Médecine Préventive.
:: Serum Institute of India reduced its price for their pentavalent vaccines supplied to Gavi that is valued at approximately US$ 50 million dollars over the next two years.
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Ebola
Additionally, Merck and NewLink Genetics committed to provide their investigational Ebola (rVSV-EBOV) vaccine to Gavi-eligible countries at the lowest possible access price.

In a statement, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and & Associations (IFPMA) said: “Vaccines are recognised as one of the most cost-effective health interventions, with potential for substantive, positive impact on health, productivity, and well-being across the globe. IFPMA member companies are proud of their role to help support strong immunisation programmes through ensuring sustainable research and development, manufacturing and availability of high-quality vaccines.”…
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Four new partnerships
Gavi today announced four new partnerships to support immunisation in developing countries:
:: Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation of Saudi Arabia – Supporting Gavi through direct funding for vaccine purchases in Timor Leste, Kiribati, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Guyana.
:: Comic Relief – The popular United Kingdom (UK) charity announced that it will expand its partnership with Gavi into the United States in 2015 and has agreed to continue supporting Gavi through donations raised during its annual events, Red Nose Day and Sport Relief in the UK.
:: IKEA Foundation – The independent charitable foundation that oversees IKEA’s global philanthropy is partnering with Gavi to provide catalytic funding to increase injection safety.
:: UPS – The global logistics provider will work with Gavi to leverage the expertise of its Global Healthcare Logistics Strategy Group to develop and implement an executive training and mentorship programme to enhance the capability of local supply chain leaders who will go on to build robust immunisation supply chains.

In addition, last week at the World Economic Forum, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW), Star Syringe and Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices (HMD) all made commitments to support Gavi’s mission. The commitment from IFPW represents the first of its kind for the global pharmaceutical wholesale industry.

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Industry Watch [to 31 January 2015]
:: BE Pledges Its Offering of 5 Year Price Commitment to GAVI Graduated Countries – 26 January 2015

:: GSK extends its price-freeze commitment to ten years for countries graduating from Gavi support – 26 January 2015

:: JANSSEN PLEDGE TO GAVI [QUINVAXEM] – 26 January 2015

:: PANACEA BIOTEC’S STATEMENT: GAVI – 26 January 2015

:: Pfizer Commits to Further Reduce Price for Prevenar 13 in the World’s Poorest Countries Through 2025 – January 26, 2015

:: Sanofi Pasteur Statement of Support – GAVI Alliance – January 26, 2015

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BMGF – Gates Foundation Watch [to 31 January 2015]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
:: Hundreds of Millions More Children to Receive Protection against Deadly Diseases, a Chance at a Healthy Future
Jan 27, 2015
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced a five-year, US$1.55 billion commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to bring life-saving vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries. The commitment was announced at the Gavi Replenishment Conference in Berlin…