Vaccine

A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by any natural or 'wild' strain of the organism. The term derives from vaccinia, the infectious viral agent of cowpox, which, when administered to humans, provided them protection against smallpox. The process of distributing and administrating vaccines is referred to as vaccination.

Economics of vaccine development

One challenge in vaccine development is economic: many of the diseases most demanding a vaccine, including HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, exist principally in poor countries. Pharmaceutical firms and biotech companies have little incentive to develop vaccines for these diseases because there is so little revenue potential. Most vaccine development to date has relied on "push" funding by government and non-profit organizations, of government agencies, universities and non-profit organizations. To date, there has been very little involvement of private industry on a commercial basis.

Related Topics:
HIV - Malaria - Tuberculosis

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Many researchers and policymakers are calling for a different approach, using "pull" mechanisms to motivate industry. Mechanisms such as

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prizes, tax credits, or advance market commitments could ensure a financial return to firms that successfully developed an HIV vaccine. If the policy were well-designed, it might also ensure that people have access to a vaccine if and when it is developed.

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