Novartis and BioE to develop affordable vaccines

Novartis is allying with the Indian pharmaceutical company Biological E (BioE) on the creation of affordable vaccine products for developing nations.

In the last five years, the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health has developed a typhoid vaccine with the support of Italian partners, while a dual-acting vaccine for typhoid and paratyphoid fevers has been created in association with the Wellcome Trust.

Under the new deal, Novartis will transfer technology to BioE, which will take on financial and operational responsibilities for the manufacturing, further clinical development, approval and distribution of these vaccines in poorer countries.

Novartis will retain rights to these products in developed nations.

Don Ganem, vice-president and global head of infectious diseases at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, said: "BioE has a proven track record in vaccine manufacture and capabilities to clinically develop and deliver WHO pre-qualified affordable vaccines to the developing world."

Earlier this year, Novartis expanded its range of vaccines with the launch of the meningococcal serogroup B disease vaccine Bexsero, which received EU regulatory approval in January.