Developing Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 and Future Epidemics and Pandemics: Applying Lessons from Past Outbreaks

Health Security, vol. 18, pp. 241–249

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the heavy toll that emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) with epidemic and pandemic potential can inflict. Vaccine development, scale-up, and commercialization is a long, expensive, and risky enterprise that requires substantial upfront planning and offers no guarantee of success. EIDs are a particularly challenging target for global health preparedness, including for vaccine development. Insufficient attention has been given to challenges, lessons learned, and potential solutions to support and sustain vaccine industry engagement in vaccine development for EIDs. Drawing from lessons from the most recent Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the 2009 H1N1 influenza, 2014-2016 Ebola, and 2015-16 Zika outbreaks preceding it, we offer our perspective on challenges facing EID vaccine development and recommend additional solutions to prioritize in the near term. The 6 recommendations focus on reducing vaccine development timelines and increasing business certainty to reduce risks for companies. The global health security community has an opportunity to build on the current momentum to design a sustainable model for EID vaccines.

Authors 8

1. John K. Billington corresponding

   GlaxoSmithKline (Belgium)

   Affiliation as printed

   John Billington, JD, MPH, is Director, Science Policy, and Emmanuel Hanon, PhD, DVM, is Senior Vice President, Head of R&D; both at GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium

   both at GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium

2. Stanley C. Erck

   Novavax (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Stanley C. Erck, MBA, is President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, Gaithersburg, MD

3. Julie L. Gerberding

   Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH, is Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer, Strategic Communications, Global Public Policy, and Population Health; and Julia A. Spencer, PhD, is Associate Vice President, Global Public Policy; both with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ

   Julia A. Spencer, PhD, is Associate Vice President, Global Public Policy

   both with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ

4. Emmanuel Hanon

   GlaxoSmithKline (Belgium)

   Affiliation as printed

   John Billington, JD, MPH, is Director, Science Policy, and Emmanuel Hanon, PhD, DVM, is Senior Vice President, Head of R&D; both at GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium

   both at GSK Vaccines, Wavre, Belgium

5. Sabrina Ivol Aachen

   Janssen (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   Sabrina Ivol is Senior Specialist, Policy; and Johan Van Hoof, MD, is Managing Director; both with Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV, Janssen Pharmaceuticals R&D, Leiden, Netherlands

   Johan Van Hoof, MD, is Managing Director

   Sabrina Ivol is Senior Specialist, Policy

6. John W. Shiver

   Sanofi (France)

   Affiliation as printed

   Isabelle Deschamps, PhD, is Head of Global Vaccine Public Affairs; and John W. Shiver, PhD, is Senior Vice President R&D; both with Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France

   Isabelle Deschamps, PhD, is Head of Global Vaccine Public Affairs

   both with Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France

7. Julia Spencer

   Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH, is Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer, Strategic Communications, Global Public Policy, and Population Health; and Julia A. Spencer, PhD, is Associate Vice President, Global Public Policy; both with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ

   Julia A. Spencer, PhD, is Associate Vice President, Global Public Policy

   both with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ

8. Johan Van Hoof Aachen

   Janssen (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   Sabrina Ivol is Senior Specialist, Policy; and Johan Van Hoof, MD, is Managing Director; both with Janssen Vaccines & Prevention BV, Janssen Pharmaceuticals R&D, Leiden, Netherlands

   Johan Van Hoof, MD, is Managing Director

   Sabrina Ivol is Senior Specialist, Policy