Takeda secures $38 million grant to develop affordable polio vaccine
pharmafile | May 10, 2016 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, Takeda, Vaccine, access, developing countries, grant, polio
Takeda Pharmaceuticals has received a $38 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a low-cost polio vaccine.
Using the funding, Takeda will develop, license and supply at least 50 million doses per year of Sabin-strain inactivated poliovirus vaccine (sIPV) to more than 70 countries. Although soon to be eradicated, there has been a pressing need for countries to switch from using the oral polio vaccine to using the IPV to ensure the disease does not reappear. Takeda’s vaccine will ensure that there is not a worldwide shortage of the vaccine once countries do make the switch.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Gates Foundation will provide a $38 million grant to Takeda to leverage its vaccine manufacturing platform to develop and license a safe and effective sIPV, as well as making it available at an affordable price for countries receiving support from the vaccine alliance, Gavi.
Christophe Weber, Takeda CEO, says: “Takeda is honoured to partner with the Gates Foundation to support the polio endgame. This represents a major commitment by a Japanese company to the health of children in developing countries around the world.”
Chris Elias, head of global development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, comments: “In 2016, the world is closer than ever to eradicating polio. To eradicate polio we need to ensure every last child is protected from the disease – this partnership will help to ensure that the world has enough vaccine to get the job done and maintain a polio free world.”
Sean Murray
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