12 June 2021, The report presented to the G7 leaders ‘100 Days Mission for diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to respond to future pandemic threats’ today comes following discussions with CEOs and representatives of life science companies with Sir Patrick Vallance and Melinda French Gates at a UK-hosted G7 Health Ministers’ and life sciences meetings in Oxford on 3rd June to discuss the pandemic preparedness partnership roadmap.
At the 3 June meeting, the life science industry leaders agreed to join forces with governments to step up collective efforts to ensure the world is better prepared to tackle future global pandemics. The industry shares the belief that actions such as expanded vaccination programmes and use of diagnostics will strengthen innovation and health system capacities globally, and that improvements to essential regulatory and pathogen sharing mechanisms will make future responses more secure.
Innovative vaccine manufacturers and biotech companies who are at the forefront of the global effort to develop and manufacture COVID-19 vaccines and treatments have been instrumental in the world having safe and effective vaccines approved in 326 days. They have achieved a historic feat of scaling up manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines from zero to 2,2 billion at the end of May, and an estimated 10 to 11 billion by the end of 2021, which should be enough to vaccinate the world’s adult population if shared equitably. They will share the hard learnt lessons from this pandemic and their scientific and manufacturing knowhow to the 100 Day Mission.
The collective aspiration to support the 100 Days Mission represents a significant milestone and requires sustained leadership, investment and effort from many stakeholders. It ensures industry is part of a robust collaboration alongside governments, international organisations and academia over the coming months and years to take action towards a common goal: protecting people from future pandemics through developing and deploying safe, targeted and effective diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines at scale, with a good safety profile.
The G7 leaders decision is the starting point for partnership between industry and government to achieve this mission together.
Jean-Christophe Tellier, chair of BCR and President of IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations) who attended the 3 June meeting said:
The life science industry has stepped up to the COVID-19 pandemic in an unprecedented way, with a number of safe and highly effective vaccines, as well as essential diagnostics and a number of important treatments. While it is too soon to learn all the lessons of the current pandemic, 3 things are clear.
Early detection and immediate and unhindered sharing of pathogens is essential. Science and the innovative ecosystem is a powerful tool to research, develop and manufacture solutions to prevent and tackle pandemics. And finally, partnerships and collective action have been the foundation for success towards a shared goal of equitable and fair access for all.
The 100 Days Mission provides an important framework for future pandemic preparedness response, and a clear statement of a shared ambition to compress the already amazing achievement of 326 days for a COVID-19 vaccine to 100 days.
