Schering-Plough and WHO to Provide Developing Countries Access to Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Technology

Nobilon, the human vaccine business of Schering-Plough Corporation (Kenilworth, NJ), have entered into an agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) to provide access to pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing technology to developing countries.

Under the agreement, Nobilon has granted the WHO a nonexclusive license to develop, register, manufacture, use, and sell seasonal and pandemic live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) produced in embryonated chicken eggs. The WHO will be permitted to grant a sublicense to vaccine manufacturers in developing countries working within the framework of the WHO Global Vaccine Action Plan. Sublicensed vaccine manufacturers will be able to provide vaccines to the public sector of developing countries royalty-free.

Egg-based LAIV technology is specifically considered attractive for this purpose because the manufacturing technology process is easier to transfer, capital investment is lower and yields are higher as compared to inactivated influenza vaccines.

The WHO Global Vaccine Action Plan seeks to expand influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity in developing countries and enhance the global supply for pandemic vaccines.