Research-based pharmaceutical industry welcomes main conclusions of 2009 flu pandemic response
The research-based pharmaceutical industry, represented by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), welcomes the assessment of the global response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic conducted by the independent International Health Regulations (IHR) Review Committee, whose final report was the subject of a resolution 1 approved by the World Health Assembly. The pandemic response led to an unprecedented level of collaboration including the involvement of the world’s major influenza vaccine manufacturers who committed to donate over 80% of the 200 million doses target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help developing countries. The IFPMA confirms its support for the Committee’s main conclusions. Despite the scale and speed of global response to the 2009 pandemic, the IFPMA concurs with the findings of the report that there remain areas for improvement especially in terms of sustaining the appropriate production capacity which may still be insufficient for global populations in the future.
In reality, from the beginning of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic a broad coalition of international institutions, governments, public health authorities, scientists and vaccine producers came together to mount the most comprehensive pandemic response ever undertaken. As vaccines and antivirals are crucial tools in the fight against pandemic influenza, the research-based pharmaceutical industry had an essential role to play when called on by the public health authorities. The vaccine manufacturers ensured the deliveries of vaccines began in just three months, speeding up a process which would generally take between four to six months. This was achieved by significant investments in pandemic vaccine development and production capacity in the years preceding the pandemic. In addition, coordinated efforts ensured that antivirals were provided to WHO and governments.
Eduardo Pisani, IFPMA Director General explains the key learnings for the industry: “It has reminded us that timely access to candidate vaccine viruses and reagents is vital; secondly, that rapid evaluation and approval mechanisms for vaccines must be in place along with effective distribution networks; and thirdly, that seasonal vaccination recommendations provide a means to reduce the burden of influenza whilst sustaining and increasing global vaccine production capacity.”
The R&D pharmaceutical industry fully welcomes the IHR report’s recommendation for countries to immunize their high-risk populations yearly against seasonal influenza 2 . This is also supported in the 2003 World Health Assembly Resolution (WHA56.19), urging countries to immunize at high- risk groups with the goal of attaining a 50% vaccination coverage of at risk populations, in particular those over 65, by 2006 and 75% vaccination coverage by 2010. The target has not yet been achieved, resulting in current seasonal vaccine usage levels failing to match the growth in production capacity.
The IHR report and the findings of the recent WHO Open-Ended Working Group of Member States on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (OEWG/PIP) are important milestones in influenza pandemic preparedness. In both of these processes, IFPMA members have renewed the R&D pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to providing financial support for the WHO Surveillance Network’s vaccine-specific activities, allocating pandemic vaccines for developing country use, and fulfilling its unique role in the preparation and delivery of pandemic vaccines for the benefit of people worldwide.
Geneva, 19 May 2011
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About IFPMA
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) represents over 90 innovative pharmaceutical companies and associations around the world. Our industry’s almost three million employees discover, develop, and deliver medicines and vaccines that advance global health. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to help the global health community improve the lives of people everywhere. For more information, visit ifpma.org.
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