World Health Organization’ Endorsement Critical Win for Glaxo
In a July 9th story, ‘WHO clears Glaxo’s Cervarix for developing world’ Reuters reported that GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK.L) cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix has won a green light from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in developing countries, although how the shot will be paid for has yet to be resolved.
WHO “prequalification” — a key hurdle for gaining wider use of Glaxo’s HPV vaccine Cervarix, an necessary endorsement for UN agencies and the non-profit GAVI Alliance to purchase the vaccine, and Glaxo said on Thursday it hoped the move would help speed access to Cervarix globally.
And Glaxo quickly followed up, saying that the company plans to explore new financing mechanisms that would ensure broad availability. “We’re exploring a variety of distribution partnerships to ensure Cervarix will protect women and girls around the globe,” Jean Stephenne, head of vaccines, tells Reuters.
WHO had already approved Gardasil and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, a broad umbrella group of international health organizations, has made access to cervical cancer vaccines a top priority. Dan Thomas, a GAVI spokesman stated “We’re very eager to offer women in developing countries these vaccines because without early screening, they are arguably more vulnerable to cervical cancer.”
It’s likely that Glaxo will work out discount prices for global health agencies and nonprofits, a common avenue for Big Pharma companies selling expensive therapies in poor countries.
For full Reuters story Click here: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSL948126520090709
For AP Coverage, ‘WHO approves cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix’ Click Here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLW3aCaSxKeKddyL_g7p2uerLjkgD99AT25G0
