Vaccines have proven an invaluable tool in the fight against the world's nastiest diseases. Ebola, dengue and malaria are just a few of the high-profile illnesses drug manufacturers have targeted with millions of dollars in research money. More lucrative for pharmas, though, are commonplace diseases like pneumonia and HPV.
It's not just infectious diseases either — a growing number of companies have their eye on harnessing the power of vaccines to beat back cancer.
From a business standpoint, though, it's not always clear why companies choose to pursue vaccines versus other areas of drug development with larger margins. And sometimes the science and production capacity needed to be successful in this field can weigh down investor optimism.
BioPharma Dive addresses these and many more hurdles facing vaccine developers in the content below.
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Why be a vaccine company?
Lower margins and pricey manufacturing are hallmarks of vaccine making. Yet the drugs can provide a steady, and often competition-free, source of revenue. Read More »
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Sanofi Pasteur on dengue and the changing vaccine landscape
The French pharma's vaccine unit has faced significant backlash, but remains a major player in the global market. The chief commercial officer of North America talked to BioPharma Dive about the business. Read More »
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Immunotherapy advances spur new look at cancer vaccines
Researchers have long been intrigued by the idea of a cancer vaccine, drawn in by hints of an immune role in cases of "spontaneous" remissions to cancer. Now, the immunotherapy boom is opening up new areas of research. Read More »
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Comparing vaccine incentives in the US and Europe
Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic aim to encourage vaccine R&D. Here's a primer to help sort through the different governmental approaches. Read More »