China’s planned foray into the global vaccine market should drive down the vaccine prices of Western drug firms. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in March that China’s drug safety standards are in line with global vaccine regulations, paving the way for Chinese vaccines to be authorized by the WHO and then purchased by United Nations agencies and the GAVI Alliance. China has 30 vaccine companies that produce nearly 1 billion doses. But problems the country has had with food and drug safety coupled with a lack of supporting agencies to enforce regulation could spark wariness of the vaccines. Before they are even submitted, Chinese biotech firms will begin the expensive and difficult process of ensuring that facilities and processes adhere to safety and quality regulations. For example, China’s biggest biologics manufacturer, China National Biotec Group (CNBG), will spend upward of CNY 10 billion ($1.5 billion) by 2015 to ensure its operations are up to WHO standards. China’s probable first submission for WHO approval, the CNBG-made Japanese encephalitis vaccine, has been utilized domestically for 20 years. It is expected to be submitted in around a year. Also on the horizon are vaccines for polio, pneumonia and rotavirus. In 2010, global vaccine sales increased 14% to $25.3 billion, according to Kalorama Information.

Source: The Associated Press