A WORLD OF VACCINES

• GSK is one of the largest vaccine makers in the world, with the portfolio of over 30 vaccines available worldwide.
• In 2009, GSK Biologicals distributed 1.4 billion doses of vaccines – including 130 million H1N1 vaccine doses – to 182 countries in both the developed and the developing world.
• Every day, some 3 million doses of GSK’s vaccines are distributed in 182 countries worldwide.
• GSK is a global vaccines pioneer, providing the world’s first vaccines for: rubella (1969), varicella (1984), recombinant hepatitis B (1986), hepatitis A (1992), combined hepatitis A & B (1996), as well as a number of innovative combined vaccines.

THE VALUE OF VACCINES

• Every year, thanks to immunization, approximately three million deaths are prevented and 750,000 children are saved from disability around the world. (Ehreth, J. Vaccine 2003; 21:4111)
• In the past, vaccination was aimed mostly at the young. Today it can be used for people of all ages with a range of vaccines available to prevent disease at all stages of life.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• GSK continuously examines new ways to prevent a greater number of diseases more effectively and is conducting research in meningitis A and C, HIV/AIDS, influenza, rotavirus, the Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and E, allergies, and many other diseases.
• GSK has adopted global initiatives that encourage research and development for diseases that disproportionally affect the world’s poorest countries, including three of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) priority disease – HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

PANDEMIC PLANNING

• In addition to prevention education, vaccines are the single most important pharmaceutical intervention for protecting against influenza and, together with antivirals, they form a critical component of response plans to an influenza pandemic. While vaccines effective against a new pandemic are not yet available, GSK continues to research and develop new vaccines to prepare for new pandemic threats.
• GSK’s solution to pandemic preparedness involves a three pillar approach:
  • Antivirals: prescription products used to treat the symptoms of someone who has contracted influenza
  • Pandemic vaccine: developed directly from a circulating pandemic influenza virus
  • Pre-pandemic vaccine: developed from a circulating influenza virus that has the potential to become a pandemic virus and has the potential to provide incremental protection to Canadians

CANADIAN VACCINES LEADER

GSK is a pioneer in the development and production of innovative vaccines to prevent potentially life-threatening or crippling illnesses in Canada and around the world. Working closely with researchers, academic institutions and governments, GSK is striving to provide access to vaccines for many preventable diseases for all those at risk. Through its accomplished and dedicated workforce, GSK Biologicals, GSK’s vaccines business, applies its expertise to the discovery of innovative vaccines that contributes to the health and well-being of people of all generations around the world.

• Vaccine research is one of the fastest growing areas of health innovation in Canada.
• GSK has been at the forefront of developing ways to enhance the effectiveness of vaccines, most notably this is being done through the development of Adjuvant System with the antigen within a vaccine optimizes the interaction of the vaccines with the immune system to obtain a better, more targeted immune response.
• GSK offers a broad portfolio of vaccines to satisfy government-run public health funded vaccination programs for all Canadians, at all life stages.
• GSK collaborates with the Canadian government to achieve Canada’s pandemic goals of minimizing serious illness, overall death and societal disruption.
• After investing $250 million in Quebec-based bio-pharmaceutical activities, including upgrades to the vaccine manufacturing facility, the Quebec City (Ste-Foy) site is now a key global influenza vaccine manufacturing site, supporting public health strategies in Canada, the United States and worldwide.
• Completed in early 2005, GSK’s Laval, Quebec site recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. In 2007 the facility was recognized as the company’s North American vaccines R&D hub, putting the company at the forefront of influenza vaccine development and production.
• Scientists in Laval focus research and development work in the  areas of adjuvant technologies, molecular biology, immunology, respiratory viral vaccines, allergy, oncology and process development, providing activities related to research projects in early development as well as the implementation of technological platforms supporting the pre-clinical and clinical development of candidate vaccines.