Vaccine research back in fashion

[Guest guest]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/science/14751032.htm Vaccine research back in fashion After the industry was all but abandoned, companies are building labs and the government is investing millions By D. Rockoff BALTIMORE SUN WASHINGTON - Vaccines, the venerable guardians against measles, mumps and polio, are making a comeback after years of neglect, because of their potential to fight a bird flu outbreak and prevent deadly diseases such as cervical cancer. After largely abandoning the business, companies are building new labs and the federal government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on vaccine research. "There's a

resurgence," said Sloan of Duke University, who headed a National Academy of Sciences committee that just three years ago lamented the sorry state of vaccine innovation and production. The heightened attention will receive a further boost with the Food and Drug Administration's expected approval this week of the HPV vaccine, which could prevent most cases of cervical cancer. It would be the third vaccine to win agency approval in as many months, after regulators allowed sales of vaccines to treat shingles in the elderly and a common stomach virus in children. "The pendulum went too far," said Dr. Jay Markowitz, a biotechnology analyst at T. Rowe Price. "Companies realized a wholesale exit from the vaccine business was the wrong move, and at the same time, government realized that as well." To prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak, the federal government is spending more than $160 million to stockpile

vaccines. Earlier this year, it gave companies more than $1 billion to develop faster production techniques. What's more, the National Institutes of Health is conducting basic research to pave the way for the next generation of flu vaccines. "There's an increased government investment," said Dr. Nabel, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' vaccine research center. "That translates into more support for the research and more support for the purchase of vaccines. And that, in turn, increases the interest of companies." Companies have taken notice. In April, the Swiss company Novartis bought a California vaccinemaker for $5.4 billion. Within the past year, GlaxoKline of London has purchased a Canadian manufacturer, acquired a research and production facility in Marietta, Pa., and expanded another in Germany. Sanofi Pasteur, a French company, is building

three plants in Swiftwater, Pa. "There really is a large potential," said Fanelle, a spokeswoman for Merck & Co.'s vaccine division, based in West Point, Pa. "The adult and adolescent markets are untapped for vaccines." Indeed, vaccines no longer concentrate on communicable diseases afflicting children. Last year, the FDA approved a vaccine for bacterial meningitis in college students. A broader clientele means bigger sales. Novartis' chief executive recently told Business Week that the market for vaccines could grow 20 percent a year over the next five years. The global market for vaccines in 2005 was $5.8 billion, according to IMS Health, which tracks pharmaceutical sales. As the number of vaccines proliferates -- at higher prices -- scientists and advocates fear only the wealthy will benefit. Health insurance plans have agreed to pay for many vaccines, but many Americans do not

have insurance or their plans do not cover immunizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spends more than $2 billion a year to help state and local health departments inoculate the underinsured, predominantly children. The budget for the agency's Vaccines for Children program has increased sharply, said Dr. Lance Rodewald, who runs the CDC immunization office that supports state and local departments. But advocates and scientists worry that budget restrictions will erode the spending power of the CDC's other vaccine program, making it even tougher for health departments to help low-income adults especially. "We have these new and wonderful vaccines to protect against cancer and other diseases, but yet half of the adult population won't be able to afford them," said Dr. Neal Halsey, a s Hopkins University professor who leads the immunization working group of the Infectious Diseases

Society of America. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Well, Congress let the Frist vaccine rider slip by in order to protect a small region of the Artic zone from oil drilling. A region where rough 80 to 90% of all Americans will never, ever venture.

Vaccine research back in fashion

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/science/14751032.htmVaccine research back in fashionAfter the industry was all but abandoned, companies are building labs and the government is investing millionsBy D. RockoffBALTIMORE SUN

WASHINGTON - Vaccines, the venerable guardians against measles, mumps and polio, are making a comeback after years of neglect, because of their potential to fight a bird flu outbreak and prevent deadly diseases such as cervical cancer.

After largely abandoning the business, companies are building new labs and the federal government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on vaccine research.

"There's a resurgence," said Sloan of Duke University, who headed a National Academy of Sciences committee that just three years ago lamented the sorry state of vaccine innovation and production.

The heightened attention will receive a further boost with the Food and Drug Administration's expected approval this week of the HPV vaccine, which could prevent most cases of cervical cancer.

It would be the third vaccine to win agency approval in as many months, after regulators allowed sales of vaccines to treat shingles in the elderly and a common stomach virus in children.

"The pendulum went too far," said Dr. Jay Markowitz, a biotechnology analyst at T. Rowe Price. "Companies realized a wholesale exit from the vaccine business was the wrong move, and at the same time, government realized that as well."

To prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak, the federal government is spending more than $160 million to stockpile vaccines.

Earlier this year, it gave companies more than $1 billion to develop faster production techniques. What's more, the National Institutes of Health is conducting basic research to pave the way for the next generation of flu vaccines.

"There's an increased government investment," said Dr. Nabel, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' vaccine research center.

"That translates into more support for the research and more support for the purchase of vaccines. And that, in turn, increases the interest of companies."

Companies have taken notice. In April, the Swiss company Novartis bought a California vaccinemaker for $5.4 billion.

Within the past year, GlaxoKline of London has purchased a Canadian manufacturer, acquired a research and production facility in Marietta, Pa., and expanded another in Germany. Sanofi Pasteur, a French company, is building three plants in Swiftwater, Pa.

"There really is a large potential," said Fanelle, a spokeswoman for Merck & Co.'s vaccine division, based in West Point, Pa. "The adult and adolescent markets are untapped for vaccines."

Indeed, vaccines no longer concentrate on communicable diseases afflicting children. Last year, the FDA approved a vaccine for bacterial meningitis in college students.

A broader clientele means bigger sales. Novartis' chief executive recently told Business Week that the market for vaccines could grow 20 percent a year over the next five years.

The global market for vaccines in 2005 was $5.8 billion, according to IMS Health, which tracks pharmaceutical sales.

As the number of vaccines proliferates -- at higher prices -- scientists and advocates fear only the wealthy will benefit. Health insurance plans have agreed to pay for many vaccines, but many Americans do not have insurance or their plans do not cover immunizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spends more than $2 billion a year to help state and local health departments inoculate the underinsured, predominantly children.

The budget for the agency's Vaccines for Children program has increased sharply, said Dr. Lance Rodewald, who runs the CDC immunization office that supports state and local departments.

But advocates and scientists worry that budget restrictions will erode the spending power of the CDC's other vaccine program, making it even tougher for health departments to help low-income adults especially.

"We have these new and wonderful vaccines to protect against cancer and other diseases, but yet half of the adult population won't be able to afford them," said Dr. Neal Halsey, a s Hopkins University professor who leads the immunization working group of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

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