Industry and policy makers should work together to find ways to improve access to life saving vaccines DCVMN says

• Equally significant is the need to promote policies that will expand the incentives for vaccine research
• An Action Plan will also be made to expand DCVMN collaboration with GAVI alliance which works towards saving children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunizations in poor countries.

What is expected to emerge at 11^th Annual DCVMN General Meeting to held in Hyderabad from September 13-16, 2010, will be the prescription for the vaccine industry that can help the industry overcome hurdles such as a strong distribution infrastructure, inspire more innovation, and strengthen collaboration with multi lateral agencies in addition to encouraging diet of incentives by Government for the development of vaccines that will motivate the industry. The three days 11^th Annual General Meet of DCVMN is hosted by Bharat Biotech. 125 participants from 31 vaccine manufacturers representing 14 countries & 12 international agencies will be participating in this year’s annual meet.

In recent times DCVMN has played a much broader role and has a greater influence in Global Immunization and infectious disease control initiatives. It has played a critical role in developing the Immunization Vision and public health strategies for the Developing World. The goal of DCVMN meet is to provide an opportunity for its partners to participate in shaping a global research and development strategy. Its objective is to also analyze the current status of vaccine research and development and identify opportunities for vaccine research and development within WHO review of new vaccine technologies. DCVMN also reviews opportunities and bottlenecks in vaccine research, development and introduction of new products in the global markets.

In his address Dr. Akira Homma, President of DCVMN said DCVMN provides 2/3^rd of the vaccines used in the world. The DCVMN is an important partner in the Global Immunization agenda as its goals are aligned to GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization). Our objective is to increase participation of our members in GAVI and strengthen their interest in global networking and collaboration. According to the WHO projections 2010 the number of future deaths averted as a result of GAVI support provided since 2000 is 5 million.

In his talk Dr. Krishna Ella, CMD of Bharat Biotech urged the business community and policy makers to work together to find ways to improve access to available vaccines. He also highlighted the need to create an environment that would stimulate innovation and further research into new vaccines, particularly for neglected diseases that are endemic in the emerging markets world such as malaria, rabies, and seasonal flu. It is equally important issues related to vaccines need to receive “bigger" attention from policy makers concerned about public health.

Thanks to the advent of molecular biology, people have a far better and deeper understanding of the biology of both the organisms they need to protect against and the human body's means to fight back. Dr. Ella added.

Some of the hard issues facing the industry and the increasing role of DCVMN in the global market will be some of the topics expected to come up for discussion during this year’s meeting. DCVMN experts are expected to offer implemental prescriptions to tackle these challenges for major issues such as the WHO Pre Qualification hurdles, new challenges to enter into global vaccine market, issues and obstacles that preclude taking advantage of existing opportunities in the global market. Collaboration between DCVMN and multilateral organisations such as WHO, UNICEF will also be highlighted during the annual meet.

DCVMN will also emphasize the need to improve co-operation and networking among DCVMN members and find ways to ink new possibilities that will help produce new products required by global market among DCVMN Labs. The discussion will also include the major issues that preclude the incorporation of new technologies of vaccine production.

The critical success factors for improving partnership between emerging countries manufacturers to address public health needs in the vaccine industry and how the international and multilateral organisations can contribute better to address the need of expansion of DCVMN production capacity are some the issues DCVMN meet will address going forward Dr. Akira Homma said.

Formed in 2000 DCVMN’s  goal is to provide quality vaccines at affordable prices to the developing world, DCVMN today boasts of 19 members of which 7 members are WHO pre-qualified. The full members of DCVMN network are Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Vaccinology institutions (WHO, IVI, RIVM/NVI) are resources for technical support. Members include – Anlis, Bharat Biotech, Biological E, Bio Pharma, BioNet Asia, Birmex, China National Biotech Group, Fiocruz, Finlay Institute, Indian Immunologicals, Instituto Fundaco Butantan, Ivac, LG Life Sciences, Panacea Biotech, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute, Serum Institute of India, Sinovac Biotech, The Biovac Institute, Vabiotech, Xiamen Innovax Biotech, Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical  Vacsera and Zydus Cadilla.