PhRMA firms have nearly 300 therapeutic vaccines in development

US research-based biopharmaceutical companies are developing nearly 300 vaccines for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases, according to a new report by the trade body Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The vaccines - all either currently tested in clinical trials or under review by the Food and Drug Administration - include 170 for infectious diseases, 102 for cancers and eight for neurological disorders.

“Vaccines are one of the greatest achievements of biomedical science and public health,” said PhRMA president and chief executive John Castellani, adding: “Over the past few decades, vaccinations have helped prevent and in some cases nearly eliminate contagious and deadly diseases affecting children and adults alike.

According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA there has been a greater than 90% decrease in incidence of nine infectious diseases, including smallpox and measles, for which vaccines have been recommended for decades. Reduction in mortality and morbidity by vaccination means less doctor’s visits and hospitalizations, which translates into healthcare cost savings, as well as fewer lost days at work, leading to improved productivity.