Innovative Public-Private Partnership Develops Vaccines for Childhood Diseases in India

Partnership Model: The DFID-funded Business Linkages Challenge Fund (BLCF) is a private sector instrument, which provides companies in developing countries with grants of between £50,000 and £1 million. By sharing the risk associated with new initiatives and encouraging private sector companies to invest, the BLCF leverages the capacity of the private sector to engage in programs with a high development impact. Companies receive funding for programs that increase access to markets, transfer technology, improve competitiveness, or address the business environment.

Cambridge Biostability (CBL) is a leader in stable liquid formulation of vaccines and Panacea Biotec is a health management company based in India. EMG facilitated the formation of a partnership between the two companies to facilitate the development of a temperature stable liquid vaccine over the 2004-2007 period. The program, utilizing technology developed by CBL, has received DfID grant funding through the BLCF in the amount of £946,165, which has been matched by a private sector pledge of £1,312,741. Panacea will manufacture the vaccine and commercialize the technology for developing country markets.

Background: This BCLF project supports medical research in areas of particular relevance to the poor. It is supporting the joint research and technological development between innovative Indian biotechnology firms and partners in the UK.

The partnership between CBL and Panacea Biotec seeks to revolutionize logistics around vaccine storage and delivery, removing the need for the cold chain. The aim of the program is to develop a thermo-stable pentavalent (combination DTP-Hep B–Hib) vaccine for childhood immunization.

Results/Outcome: The new technology promises to improve vaccine programs globally enabling children in rural areas to receive cheaper and safer immunizations from preventable diseases. Savings up to $100 million per year can be realized resulting in lower prices for vaccines and reaching a larger number of the poor. Panacea Biotech of India have already commenced clinical trials and is expected to progress to distribution of the vaccination to selected populations by 2007.

Impact of Partnership: • Poverty Impact: Decreasing the cost of vaccines for preventable childhood diseases. • Health Impact: Cost savings through immunization rather than treatment of diseases. • Business Linkage: Partnering companies to transfer knowledge and skills to developing economies.