Vaccine Discovery Partnership (VxDP)

GSK, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Sanofi Pasteur form a joint initiative that will endeavour to make vaccines more resistant to heat.

Vaccine Discovery Partnership (VxDP)

The Vaccine Discovery Partnership (VxDP) is a novel funding programme initiated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to enhance innovation in the development of vaccines for global health. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework, the VxDP will oversee a range of projects with multiple industry partners. Projects funded through the VxDP will span preclinical to experimental Phase IIa trials. These projects may be of relatively high risk, such that they would be difficult for any one organisation to fund without the partnership. The Foundation will set aside funds to support pilot projects and partnering companies will contribute matching resources and expertise while also committing that advances will support those who need them most through global access provisions.

Partners

• Sanofi

  Goods Supplier
  Canada | Staff size: Unknown

  Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, the world's fourth-largest by prescription sales. Sanofi engages in the research and development,...

  Sanofi S.A. is a French multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, the world's fourth-largest by prescription sales. Sanofi engages in the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for sale principally in the prescription market, but the firm also develops over-the-counter medication.

  The company covers 7 major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, diabetes, internal medicine, oncology, thrombosis and vaccines (it is the world's largest producer of the latter through its subsidiary Sanofi Pasteur). Sanofi is a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).

  The company was formed as Sanofi-Aventis in 2004 by the merger of Aventis and Sanofi-Synthélabo. It changed its name to Sanofi in May 2011. In January 2012 Sanofi announced that they will invest $125 Million in Warp Drive Bio to support their cancer research program.

  
  Collaborative Research

  
  In addition to internal research and development activities Sanofi is also involved in publicly funded collaborative research projects, with other industrial and academic partners. One example in the area of non-clinical safety assessment is the InnoMed PredTox. The company is expanding its activities in joint research projects within the framework of the Innovative Medicines Initiative of EFPIA and the European Commission.

  In June 2010, Sanofi and the Charite University of Berlin signed a cooperation agreement for the research and development of medicines and therapies.

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF)

  Foundation
  United States | Staff size: 1001-5000
  Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive...

  Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. They work with governments and private partners to foster greater public awareness of urgent global issues. Every year, millions of people find ways to transition out of poverty—by adopting new farming technologies, investing in new business opportunities, or finding new jobs. B&MGF believes women and girls have a unique power to reshape societies. One of their focuses is also on global health goals: they provide effective vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics and to develop innovative approaches to deliver health services to those who need it most.

• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

  Goods Supplier
  United Kingdom | Staff size: 10,000+

  We are a science-led global healthcare company that researches and develops a broad range of innovative medicines and brands. Our products are used by millions of people around the world,...

  We are a science-led global healthcare company that researches and develops a broad range of innovative medicines and brands. Our products are used by millions of people around the world, helping them to do more, feel better and live longer.

  We have three primary areas of business in pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare. Our commercial success depends on creating innovative new products and making these accessible to as many people who need them as possible. By achieving this, we will be able to grow our business and provide benefits to patients, consumers, society, our employees and our shareholders.

  With our headquarters in the UK, we have a wide geographical reach. We have offices in more than 115 countries, major research centres in the UK, USA, Spain, Belgium and China and an extensive manufacturing network with around 70 sites globally.

  Research is vitally important to the success of our business, and we spent just under £4 billion in 2011 in our search to develop new medicines, vaccines and innovating consumer products. We are one of the few healthcare companies researching medicines and vaccines for the World Health Organisation’s three priority diseases - HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

  Pharmaceuticals

  Our pharmaceuticals business researches, develops and makes available medicines that treat a variety of serious and chronic diseases. We have medicines available or in development in a wide range of areas including:

  • infectious diseases
  • cancer
  • epilepsy
  • heart disease
  • asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

  HIV/AIDS

  VaccinesOur vaccine business is one of the largest in the world, with over 1.1 billion doses distributed to 173 countries. We produce paediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including:

  • hepatitis A and B
  • diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough
  • measles, mumps and rubella
  • polio
  • typhoid
  • influenza
  • bacterial meningitis

  Consumer Healthcare

  Through our consumer healthcare business, we market a range of consumer health products based on scientific innovation. We have leading positions in four main categories:

  • oral health
  • nutritionals
  • wellness
  • skin health