Advertisement GSK, UK Department of Health sign meningitis B vaccine deal - Pharmaceutical Business review
Pharmaceutical Business review is using cookies

ContinueLearn More
Close

GSK, UK Department of Health sign meningitis B vaccine deal

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has entered into an agreement with the UK Department of Health to introduce a new vaccine to prevent meningitis caused by meningococcal group B bacteria for all babies in the country.

Image

The meningitis B vaccine will be introduced as part of the National Health Service’s (NHS) NHS immunization program, which is scheduled to be initiated in September.

UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was quoted by the Telegraph as saying: "I am very proud that we will be the first country in the world to have a nationwide MenB vaccination programme, helping to protect our children from a devastating disease.

"MenB can be severely disabling or fatal, especially in babies and young children. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare so I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with GSK to supply the vaccine."

GSK acquired the vaccine called Bexsero from Novartis, which resulted in the price of the vaccine being reduced.

The vaccine will now be added to the national childhood immunization program, while babies will receive the first vaccine at two months old, followed by two further doses.

Originally, the government was in talks with Novartis, which owned the vaccine.

GSK UK general manager Nikki Yates was quoted by The Guardian as saying: "As a British company, we are delighted to have concluded an agreement with the government just three weeks after we acquired the vaccine, which offers fair value to the NHS and at the same time is sustainable for GSK."

According to GSK, the agreement offers fair value for the NHS and allows a reasonable return for the company to ensure that it can continue to invest in creating new treatments and vaccines.


Image: GlaxoSmithKline headquaters in London, UK. Photo: courtesy of Maxwell Hamilton.