Vaccines for New, Emerging, and Re-Emerging Threats

Vaccine research and development stands at a critical crossroads in delivering solutions to overcome the many challenges to global health. From vaccine hesitancy and adverse advocacy to inequitable access: vaccine researchers, developers, and manufacturers must navigate a host of complex steps to realize the full potential of vaccines.

Climate change, deforestation, and altered ecosystems increase the risk of emerging new infections. Inconsistent uptake of routine vaccinations, an increase in outbreaks of preventable diseases, and the spread of antibiotic resistance, highlight the need for novel solutions.

In the first of a series of brief reports, Max Brady, EVP, Global Therapy Lead, and Megan Perkins, Strategic Client Partnerships, EMEA explore how vaccine research is meeting the challenge of emerging infectious diseases and discuss how ApotheCom partners with key stakeholders to meet these challenges.

Keeping Pace with the Pathogens

Emerging infectious diseases capture global headlines, especially those with pandemic potential, such as COVID-19, Mpox, and Ebola. However, many other, less-publicized diseases pose an ongoing threat to global health. Microbes come in many forms, and most can rapidly evolve to evade the efficacy of anti-infective interventions, including vaccines. Agility is required to keep pace with pathogens, including advances in the platform technologies and manufacturing processes that underlie vaccine development.

Lengthy Lead Times

Vaccine development and manufacturing processes are typically lengthy, complex, and rigorously regulated. While this is essential to ensure safety and efficacy, the lead time needed to complete these steps limits the speed of response to newly emerging threats. Additionally, vaccine manufacturing and distribution can require cold-chain storage and transport, making distribution particularly challenging in resource-limited settings.

The COVID-19 crisis saw the introduction of the first mRNA vaccines, with shorter manufacturing lead times and the safety advantages of being microbe-free. However, more complex subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines are still required to induce immunity against the full range of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, including burdensome diseases such as shingles, pneumococcal disease, and malaria.

Novel technology platforms and antigen engineering approaches are being developed to reduce the lead times for producing more complex vaccines. Nonetheless, all vaccines must still navigate a lengthy path to regulatory approval.

Crystallizing Value

The varied applications of vaccines mean that no single technology or solution is likely to address all the challenges ahead. A diverse set of platforms and approaches will be required to ensure that vaccines continue to be a cornerstone in the prevention, treatment, and eradication of infectious diseases.

At ApotheCom, we bring deep expertise in infectious diseases to crystallize the scientific narrative around your vaccine innovations. We understand the unique calculus of benefit that underpins their value and are experts in creating meaningful engagement and communication with both clinical professionals and patient advocates. These external partnerships are essential to informing the insights, communication strategies, and education efforts required before, during, and after a successful vaccine launch.

By uniting vaccine developers, healthcare professionals, and patients, we build nuanced strategies that address unmet needs and ensure scientific advances resonate in both clinical and real-world settings. Together, we can streamline and accelerate the path to uptake of essential vaccines and infectious disease interventions.

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