Bangkok--26 Sep--ABM Connect
Professor Rino Rappuoli, GSK Vaccines' Chief Scientist and Head of External R&D has been nominated as the third-most influential person in the category of vaccines in the world. Professor Rappuoli is a professor at Imperial College in London, and a global scientific leader dedicated to the sustainability of public health. He was recently in Thailand to receive the 2019 Edward Jenner Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th Vaccine Congress 2019. This was thanks to his contributions and dedication in introducing novel scientific concepts and discovering a vaccine to treat diseases that is helping save lives around the world and benefiting international public health.
Professor Rappuoli said that he felt honored and privileged to be granted the Edward Jenner Lifetime Achievement Award as this demonstrates that people around the world realize the importance of innovations for vaccine development. He added that the award also belongs to the hundreds of people who proved that perseverance pays off. This includes GSK for its recognition and support of R&D vaccines that can take some time to develop.
"It's fair to point out that vaccines have been one of the best healthcare innovations over hundreds of years because they help prevent infectious diseases. This, in turn, allows people to live longer and more fulfilling lives. However, vaccine development requires innovative technologies and efficient personnel, as well as support for R&D. At the moment, we are especially focused on R&D for a gonorrhea vaccine that will help over 78 million people around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, and vaccine development against anti-microbial resistance which is increasingly becoming a major healthcare concern globally."
Professor Rappuoli added that as Thailand is well-known for conducting quality clinical trials and as GSK is studying the RSV vaccine in the country, this ensures that Thailand is on the right track, and he wants to see the knowledge and technology that is developed transferred internationally. As this approach requires both the public and private sectors, he is willing to coordinate in sharing his knowledge to benefit researchers and institutes in Thailand.
"Currently, people around the world have come across the word 'vaccine hesitancy,' which is a reluctance or refusal to be vaccinated. If we refuse to be vaccinated, we can expect outbreaks of various diseases such as polio, smallpox, and measles. So, I'd like to draw your attention, particularly the new or younger generation, in recognizing the importance of vaccination," said Professor Rappuoli.
Professor Rappuoli has conducted R&D studies and initiated vaccine development concepts that have had tremendous contributions to the modern medical profession. Among his successes, which are being widely used to prevent diseases, is reverse vaccinology, which uses a bio-informatics approach to find suitable antigens that shortens the period of vaccine development; and cellular microbiology, both have proven pivotal in developing several licensed vaccines such as acellular pertussis, which contains a non-toxic component of the pertussis toxin that helps reduce negative side effects; the first meningococcal conjugate vaccine against meningococcal B, as well as the discovery of CRM 197 which is used as a carrier in many conjugate vaccines such as the IPD, Hib, and meningococcal vaccines; together with major contributions in the development of medications to treat cancers. Professor Rappuoli's research has been published in more than 690 peer-reviewed journals.
Professor Kiat Ruxrungtham, MD, Vice President for Research and Innovation, Chulalongkorn University, said that vaccine development plays a pivotal role in people's well-being and quality of life because it helps both prevent and transmit disease. Thailand is demonstrating its potential to develop novel vaccines independently. Most importantly, Prof. Kiat is urging the cooperation of all sectors in society to continue supporting advancements in vaccine developments in Thailand. The public sector has carried out some policies to support this issue in a more concrete way, such as the establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and by formulating a policy to attract private organizations that are well-suited in making investments in R&D. This includes qualified researchers who are enthusiastic about developing vaccine innovations. Lastly, this requires a venue for researchers around the world to exchange and share their knowledge and ideas, such as the "Vaccine Congress 2019" event. When it comes to vaccine development, it's important to develop improved or unprecedented vaccines that are affordable for people at all income levels, especially the underprivileged.
Professor Pannee Pitisutthitham, MD, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, said that Thailand is aware of the need to develop vaccines. This view is shared by the public and private sectors, as well as civil society. However, the problem is in developing common ground and partnerships among these sectors to ensure that people can access quality vaccines as effectively as possible. Prof. Pannee is encouraging the government to lead this partnership, including contributions to R&D budgets, building mechanisms that facilitate more researchers, and enhancing cooperation with international institutes to exchange information and knowledge, as well as innovative technologies. In the end, it's important to see that Thailand is doing its part in developing novel vaccine manufacturers.
Viriya Chongphaisal, General Manager of GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Company Limited, or GSK, said that using vaccines to prevent diseases has resulted in a significant decrease in fatalities and infections. Currently, over two million doses of GSK's vaccines are given every day in 158 countries. In addition, GSK has more than 30 vaccines in the R&D process that are being designed to develop immunity to treat 21 diseases. GSK is also building partnerships on novel vaccine developments with over 150 organizations from the public sector, educational institutes, and private companies globally.
"In Thailand, from 2003-2019, GSK has joined together with Thai researchers and institutes to conduct more than 50 clinical trials covering hepatitis B, rotavirus (the most common cause of severe diarrhoea), HPV (a cause of cervical cancers), diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, influenza, dengue, and meningococcal meningitis with the aim to reinforce the public health system and improve the health of the Thai people. This is in line with GSK's commitment to providing people with an equal access to quality treatments," said Mr. Viriya.
In Thailand, GSK is currently conducting three clinical trials relating to the epidemiology of RSV which includes an RSV epidemiological study in children and infants that will help prevent respiratory infections. The research will then be extended to cover pregnant women and high risk groups such as senior citizens. This coincides with a study of a COPD vaccine to prevent exacerbations caused by bacterial infections.
It's clear that scientists, researchers and healthcare professionals are committed to developing and initiating vaccines to treat several diseases to build a stronger and safer society for everyone.