Stimulating the Development of Orphan (and Other) Vaccines
1999

Stimulating the Development of Orphan Vaccines

Commentary

Author Information

Author(s): Benjamin Schwartz, N. Regina Rabinovich

Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Hypothesis

Will measures to promote orphan vaccine development be sufficient to alter vaccine development priorities?

Conclusion

Incentives may help promote the development of orphan vaccines, but increasing profit potential may be more crucial than lowering development costs.

Supporting Evidence

  • Vaccines prevent more than 3.2 million deaths per year.
  • Developments in biotechnology promise prevention for many more diseases.
  • 194 drugs and biologics have been brought to market as orphan products, but none are vaccines.

Takeaway

This article talks about how making vaccines for rare diseases more appealing to companies could save many lives, but just lowering costs might not be enough.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the discussion of economic factors influencing vaccine development.

Limitations

The commentary does not provide specific data or empirical evidence to support its claims.

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