DCVMN International, India Vaccine Manufacturers To Support Vaccine Initiative

The Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) International has committed to support a $3.6 million program that will aim to deliver high quality and affordable vaccines in India.

The initiative will enable more vaccine manufacturers in the country to provide a sustainable, secure supply of priority vaccines for the international market. The initiative will primarily focus on pentavalent/ hexavalent, human papillomavirus, measles/rubella, pneumococcal conjugate, rotavirus, typhoid conjugate, and inactivated polio vaccines.

“The three years' project costs of over $3.6 million will be sourced 60 percent by international global health organizations and the remaining jointly by DCVMN members and partners,” the group said.

The project will focus on several core areas. These will include adequate training relevant to changing GMP requirements and quality management systems. The program will also try to encourage dialogue on regulatory challenges, as well as widen access to independent experts. Design of manufacturing facilities will also be reviewed. Finally, the initiative will address World Health Organization standards and prequalification. This could help maintain the industry’s momentum gained from the WHO’s clearance earlier this year stating that India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) meets the prescribed international standards for vaccine manufacturing.

DCVMN President Mahendra Suhardono said, “With two out of three children in the world receiving lifesaving vaccines from emerging manufacturers, and as the world's population is growing at the fastest rate in developing countries, it is important to ensure improved manufacturing in every facility we can reach.”

India has been working to redeem its reputation in pharmaceutical manufacturing after suffering a series of blows in the form of FDA bans affecting several Indian manufacturing facilities, including Ranbaxy. Several initiatives including the Coalition for Affordable Care and a petition from The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) have been launched in order to improve the quality of generic pharmaceutical manufacturing and increase drug discovery in the country. Earlier this month, India also announced its intention to help in the development of drugs and vaccines for Ebola virus.