The resulting detoxified whole cell diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) vaccine – DTPlow, – was not only safer, but could be up to fifty times cheaper than that of DTaP. Our research had further showed that removal of LPS allowed for the purification

selleck inhibitor of MPLA, which is potentially an extremely inexpensive adjuvant. The 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic called for Butantan to take on an additional temporary role to provide pandemic vaccine to the Ministry of Health by filling a large number of doses imported as bulk product from international producers. Our proposal to vaccinate grammar school children (7–11 years old) to prevent the spread of seasonal influenza from schools to families was therefore curtailed. We did, however, initiate a demonstration trial among 5000 children in the São Paulo area. If results of this ambitious trial, conducted following stringent international practices, corroborate the positive impact of similar strategies [8], it might be recommended to immunize about 1 million children in Brazil. Technology

transfer is complex. It entails a great deal of responsibilities on the part of the technology provider and technical and managerial capability on the part of the recipient. Above all, technology transfer is a joint venture based on mutual trust and commitment. A major objective must also be for the project to be sustainable, which implies incorporation of new developments into the process

and, ultimately, PD0325901 mw technology independence for the recipient. In the future, Butantan will seek ways to increase its production capacity in order to meet the demand for influenza vaccine, either by improving procedures within the large production plant, or by investigating new technologies. The authors, all investigators of Instituto Butantan, a Govermental Research Institute, have no conflicts of interest. “
“The Serum Institute of India (SII) is the world’s fifth largest producer of vaccines, with an old installed capacity of over 1 billion doses. SII’s core competence in mass production of cell-culture derived products makes it a major supplier of measles, mumps and rubella, as well as diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines through the United Nations Children’s Fund. Given this experience and capacity, SII was selected in 2006 to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) technology transfer initiative to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to produce pandemic influenza vaccine [1]. Countries such as India, with very large populations but no demand for seasonal influenza vaccine, face additional technological and financial challenges in ensuring an adequate supply of influenza vaccine.