Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Programs

Pneumococcal disease takes the lives of 1.6 million people each year, including approximately 800,000 children before their fifth birthday. More than 90% of these deaths occur in developing countries. Its most common serious form, pneumonia, accounts for one in every four child deaths. GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer have developed pneumococcal conjugate vaccines which protect against this major health threat. On 23 March 2010, these two companies made unprecedented long-term commitments, via the GAVI Alliance's Advance Market Commitment for pneumococcal disease, to supply these new vaccines to developing countries at a fraction of the price charged in industrialized countries. GAVI estimates that the introduction of suitable and affordable vaccines against this disease could save some 900,000 lives by 2015. GSK will supply up to 300 million doses of its vaccine Synflorix, to GAVI over a ten year period. Synflorix contains 10 serotypes, three of which - 1, 5, and 14 - were required to be included in the AMC vaccine, due to their high disease burden in the developing world. GSK has committed to provide an average of up to 30 million doses annually and expects to deliver the first doses to Africa later this year. GSK has invested more than USD 400 million in a dedicated manufacturing plant in Singapore. Pfizer's Prevenar 13 contains 13 serotypes, which represent the most prevalent invasive disease-causing strains in young children worldwide. It has been approved for use in infants and young children in more than 40 countries. Pfizer is increasing its manufacturing capabilities to help ensure Prevenar 13 availability through a combination of capital investment, process improvements and efficiency measures throughout the supply network. On 17 August 2009, GSK announced a partnership with Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), under which GSK will provide Fiocruz with access to the technology behind its Synflorix conjugate pneumococcal vaccine. GSK will supply Synflorix to Fiocruz until the technology transfer is completed, allowing rapid incorporation of the vaccine into Brazil's national immunization program. Prevnar was originally developed by Wyeth, which was acquired by Pfizer in October 2009. Earlier that year, Wyeth donated 3 million doses of Prevnar for use in Rwanda, as part of the first national pneumococcal immunization campaign undertaken in a GAVI-eligible country. The program was undertaken with the support of GAVI Alliance and USAID, and the first dose was administered by Rwandan Health Minister Dr. Richard Sezibera on 25 April 2009. Partners for dBase: Brazil Ministry of Health, FioCruz, GAVI Alliance, Rwanda Ministry of Health, USAID Countries for dBase: Brazil, Rwanda