GSK and Fiocruz Join for R&D and Greater Vaccine Access

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK, London, UK) has partnered with Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) to develop and manufacture vaccines for pressing public health problems in Brazil. The agreement will establish a new research and development collaboration program at Fiocruz to develop a vaccine for dengue fever.

GSK will also provide Fiocruz with access to the technology behind its 10-valent conjugate vaccine for pediatric pneumococcal disease, known as Synflorix. GSK will supply Synflorix to Fiocruz until the technology transfer is completed. The Brazilian government will incorporate the vaccine into its national immunization program in the coming months.

Synflorix was approved by Brazilian regulatory authorities on June 22. It is a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that protects against diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia.

GSK Biologicals and Fiocruz initiated their first collaboration with an agreement to supply oral polio vaccines in 1985. Since then, GSK Biologicals and Fiocruz have formed several strategic alliances to provide Brazilians with key vaccines, including vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), and rotavirus. This is the partners’ first collaboration on an R&D center that will focus on the development of new vaccines.