China To Expand Vaccine Program
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
China's Ministry of Health has introduced its expanded immunity program which includes inoculating children against hepatitis A, epidemic encephalitis, epidemic encephalitis B, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). Free vaccines to prevent 15 infectious diseases will be provided. Most industry players believe that the domestic vaccine market may double thanks to the program. Beijing Tiantan Biological Products, the only listed local vaccine enterprise, reveals that it plans to build a new plant in Beijing to increase vaccine output in two years. In contrast, international pharmaceutical giants show little activitiy in the field: Sanofi-Aventis and AstraZeneca say they have no relevant vaccines made in China but will keep an eye on the market. (Click here for more - Chinese Language)