• Jan 24 Jeff Cohen NIAID, NIH - Herpes simplex virus 2 vaccines: Beyond glycoprotein
• Jan 31 Chris Walker Ohio State University - Immune control of persistent hepatitis C virus infection
• Feb 7 Fred Alt Harvard University - High throughput analysis of mechanisms that influence chromosomal rearrangements and translocations in lymphocytes
• Feb 14 Jim Crowe Vanderbilt University - Genetic and structural complexity of human antibody repertoires
• Feb 21 Ed Mocarski Emory University - Caspase-8 and RIP3-dependent death pathways: lessons from Cytomegalovirus
• Feb 28 Pat Earl NIAID, NIH - Small animal models of lethal injection for studying monkeypox virus
• Mar 6 Robin Shattock St. George’s Hosp., Univ. London - Vaginal antibodies as a determinant of HIV susceptibility
• Mar 13 Charles Mackay Monash University - Dietary and microbiome influences on gut health and inflammatory disease
• Apr 10 Rick Blumberg Brigham and Women’s Hospital - The immunological functions of the (not so) neonatal FcR for IgG
• Apr 17 Gepi Pantaleo University of Lausanne - T-cell immunity in HIV infection and vaccine development

For more information, please see http://vrc.nih.gov/cgi-shl/vrc/seminars.cfm

Active immunotherapy is an emerging therapeutic modality for the treatment of multiple cancer indications. Kite Pharma, Inc. is a privately held development stage biotechnology company engaged in the design and development of cutting-edge immunotherapeutic products to treat different cancer indications. Kite’s lead products include antigens associated with a wide variety of tumor types, and are initially being developed for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. These potential therapies are designed to stimulate a patient’s own immune system to help fight cancer and could represent novel strategies for the management and treatment of these otherwise incurable diseases. Kite is based in Los Angeles, CA.

The plan is a wide-ranging guide to innovating the nation’s vaccine system. It addresses such issues as research and development, supply, financing, distribution, safety, global cooperation, and informed decision-making among consumers and health care providers.

This is the first update of the National Vaccine Plan since the original version in 1994.

“Vaccines are a critical cornerstone of the public health system,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H. “The National Vaccine Plan articulates a vision that will ensure that the nation’s prevention strategies protect the public for the next decade and beyond.”

Despite the success of vaccines in reducing death and disability over the last century, many Americans still suffer from infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. The plan offers innovative approaches to improve delivery of existing vaccines and to spur development of new products to prevent infectious disease.

The National Vaccine Plan is the product of an extensive stakeholder feedback process. It integrates input from public health and medical experts, a wide range of federal, state and local government officials, and perhaps most importantly, the public.

“This plan is a 10-year vision for the nation to more effectively prevent infectious diseases and reduce adverse reactions to vaccines,” said Director of the National Vaccine Program Office and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Bruce Gellin, M.D., M.P.H. “The plan is national in scope. Implementation will require a well-organized effort among stakeholders, including federal, state and local policymakers, health care providers, manufacturers, academia, philanthropic organizations, and the public.”

Next steps include a series of regional meetings with stakeholders in the spring and summer of 2011, which will focus on how to implement the strategies laid out in the National Vaccine Plan. The final implementation plan will be completed by the end of 2011.

Routine smallpox vaccination ended in the United States in the early 1970s so people born after routine vaccination ended are not immune to the disease. The World Health Organization declared the disease eradicated worldwide in the 1980s. The variola virus, which causes smallpox, is kept only at the two WHO-approved repositories in the United States and Russia for limited use in research. If the virus were used in a bioterrorism attack, the U.S. government estimates that up to 1.7 million people or more could need treatment before the disease could be controlled through vaccination.

Although the Strategic National Stockpile includes smallpox vaccine, vaccines only protect against disease if a person is vaccinated before or very soon after being exposed to the virus. If further development efforts are successful, CMX-001 could be available to treat people who already have smallpox symptoms. In addition, the medication potentially could be used to treat other virus infections, such as adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, and BK virus, in people with severely weakened immune systems.

The contract uses the federal government’s new approach to producing medical countermeasures – the medications, vaccines, medical equipment and supplies needed for a health emergency. On Aug. 19, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released an examination of the federal government’s system to produce medical countermeasures, along with recommendations for a better approach. The recommendations included developing dual-use drugs – drugs that can be used for bioterrorism as well as for other illnesses – and to develop more countermeasures that are safe for children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations such as those with compromised immune systems.

Under the contract, Chimerix will continue developing CMX-001, conduct studies to show that the drug is safe and effective and that the manufacturing process is adequate to ensure the quality of the drug. This work is required for the company to apply for approval of the drug through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Delegates will have a chance to become a part of real-life case studies delivered by industry professionals of the best contract manufacturers and by the WHO’s Director of Vaccine Project Optimization who will reveal best practices of manufacturing and distribution.

Top vaccine experts such as Gerd Zettlmeissl, the CEO of Intercell and the winner of the Vaccine Industry Excellence Award of 2010, Danilo Casimiro, the Director of Viral Vaccine Research of Merck, Dr Farshad Guarikhoo, the Senior Director of External Research and Development of Sanofi Pasteur and Ed Geuns, the Head of Global Regulatory Affairs Liaison Vaccines of Abbott Biologicals will provide delegates with overall walkthrough of the whole Vaccine Value Chain.

The special feature of this event is an interactive Workshop day, held on 20th October. Workshop will include three unique sessions with a strong focus on accelerated process development, excellence in the proof-of concept clinical trials and vaccine manufacturing challenges.

How to obtain funding & financing for vaccines?
What are the main issues in establishing industry partnership?
And how to provide vaccination against influenza on a large scale?

All these and many other questions will be answered by Dr Jerald C. Sadoff, the experienced CMO of Crucell, Dr Hansi Dean and Dr Philip Dormitzer, the Head of the Viral Advanced Programs of Novartis.
For further information and to book your place at the event, please contact:

Peter Novak
T: +421 257 272 110
E: peter.novak@jacobfleming.com
W: www.jacobfleming.com