By: Wai Lang Chu, 12-Jul-2010
A new study believes vaccine manufacturers from developing countries may be able to produce a HPV vaccine at a lower cost without infringing on the numerous patents drug makers have taken out on the vaccine technology.
The researcher’s findings have particular relevance with India as it shoulders almost 25 per cent of the global cervical cancer burden and is a main supplier of childhood vaccines to agencies like the World Health Organization. Its growing middle class is also a potentially large market for the sale of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.
Currently, blockbuster HPV vaccines, such as Gardasil [HPV quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) vaccine, recombinant] from Merck & Co and Cervarix [HPV bivalent (types 16 and 18) vaccine, recombinant] from GlaxoSmithKline command at least $300 (€238) for a three-dose regimen.
Gardasil’s private market price can exceed $500 in several developed and developing countries, which few can afford in most low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy began by gathering and analysing all HPV vaccine-related patents that had been granted in the US and internationally.
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