Strategies for vaccine-product innovation: Creating an enabling environment for product development to uptake in low- and middle-income countries. Issue 49 (3rd December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giersing, Birgitte; Shah, Natasha; Kristensen, Debra; Amorij, Jean-Pierre; Kahn, Anna-Lea; Gandrup-Marino, Kristoffer; Jarrahian, Courtney; Zehrung, Darin; Menozzi-Arnaud, Marion
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 39:Issue 49(2021)
• Page Start: 7208
• Page End: 7219
• Publication Date: 2021-12-03
• Subjects: Immunization agenda 2030 -- Gavi 5.0 -- Zero-dose children -- Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS) -- Vaccine product innovations; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.07.091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: A compelling public health need based on evidence is the foundation for product innovation. Reaching the unreached with product innovations will require substantial investment. Aligned partnership and sustained resources accelerates innovation development. Strategies that de-risk investment by developers incentivizes development and uptake. Overcoming barriers to innovation needs integrated, strategic stakeholder collaboration. Abstract: Vaccine-product innovations that address barriers to immunization are urgently needed to achieve equitable vaccine coverage, as articulated in the new Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Gavi 5.0 strategy. In 2020, the Vaccine Innovation Prioritisation Strategy (VIPS) prioritized three innovations, namely microarray patches (MAPs), heat-stable and controlled-temperature chain (CTC) enabled liquid vaccine formulations and barcodes on primary packaging. These innovations were prioritized based on the priority immunization barriers that they may help overcome in resource constrained contexts, as well as by considering their potential impact on health, coverage and equity, safety, economic costs and their technical readiness and commercial feasibility. VIPS is now working to accelerate the development and lay the foundation for future uptake of the three priority vaccine-product innovations, with the long term-goal to ensure equitable vaccine coverage and increased impact of vaccines in low- and middle- income countries. To inform our strategic planning, we analyzed four commercially available vaccine product-innovations and conducted interviews with individuals from 17 immunization organizations, and/or independent immunization experts. The findings are synthesized into an 'innovation conundrum' that describes the challenges encountered in developing vaccine-product innovations and a vaccine-product innovation 'theory of change', which highlights actions that should be undertaken in parallel to product development to incentivize sustainable investment and prepare the pathway for uptake and impact.