Golden era for vaccines may be under threat warns professor

Narrowing cost margins and prohibitive regulation could threaten the future development of a second "golden" era in vaccines, a leading professor from the US has warned.

Unlike first "golden" era between 1945 to the 1970s, which was shaped by technological advancements, Professor Louis Galambos of Johns Hopkins University, believes that political pressures to reduce healthcare costs in both the UK and the US could impact negatively on the level of innovation and supply of vaccines in the future. Speaking from research published in his paper "What are the Prospects for a New GoldenEra in Vaccines ?", he pointed to the UK's vaccine sector, which is being shaped into a monopsony (or single buyer) because of current EU procurement directives that encourage restrictive bidding.

Attempts by the Department of Health and the NHS Purchasing and Supply agency encourage competition on the supply side but this only strengthens the market power of the monopsonist. And although the vaccine industries in both the UK and US has shown strong signs of innovation, he pointed to what he called a general economic decline in global public health budgets and its impact on investment in R&D.

Galambos believes the oppotunity exists to enter into the second phase of a golden era but says it requires a will from the parties involved to support basic science. Efforts should be made to prevent "poorly conceived political and media attacks on the industry. One example that was raised during the presentation was the public opposition in the UK to the MMR jab.

And lastly, he said that attempts should be made to ensure that the long-term needs of society are incorporated into the the short-tem need of agencies spending budgets.

The event was hosted by the ABPI and the UK Vaccine Industry group (UVIG)