Essential Medicines News

Each year, 2 million to 3 million children in developing countries, mainly in Africa, die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines available today. …

A major roadblock to developing and deploying vaccines that prevent such diseases is the initial high investment required by companies. To recoup their investments, companies often charge $50 to $100 per dose in developed countries - beyond the means of poor countries that often spend less than $15 per person each year on all health care. Manufacturers are reluctant to invest millions on the research and development necessary to create viable and desperately needed vaccines if they are unable to recoup their costs.

The 2006 Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, took the first step in addressing this problem by proposing an innovative financing mechanism called an “advanced market commitment,” or AMC. Italy, Canada and the United Kingdom committed to financial support for such a mechanism; some other nations have expressed support but have made no monetary commitment. This approach provides front-loaded financing for vaccine development, creating a market that will attract manufacturers. Bound by legal agreements, sponsor countries or foundations agree to provide financial commitments to subsidize the purchase cost of future vaccines for a period of time, and vaccine manufacturers agree to meet criteria for vaccine effectiveness and to provide the vaccine at affordable prices. …

The lifesaving benefits of this pilot project will be realized only if donor governments and foundations make concrete funding pledges that can drive development and production. It is estimated that the pilot pneumococcal vaccine project would require donor contributions of $1.5 billion over seven to nine years. Britain, Canada and Italy have committed to $1 billion. The United States should join these allies by pledging $30 million next year as the first installment on its commitment.

Levine is executive director of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations‘ PneumoADIP program and associate professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Klag is dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health.