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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| New low-cost vaccine for Africa | New low-cost vaccine for Africa |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| For the first time, Europe's largest drugs company, GSK, is starting the registration process for a vaccine from which it never expects to make money. | For the first time, Europe's largest drugs company, GSK, is starting the registration process for a vaccine from which it never expects to make money. |
| Globorix will only be used in Africa to prevent meningitis at prices that may never cover its research costs. | Globorix will only be used in Africa to prevent meningitis at prices that may never cover its research costs. |
| Experts say it is a sign big companies are changing their business practices, but some critics say it is not enough. | Experts say it is a sign big companies are changing their business practices, but some critics say it is not enough. |
| Millions of people in Africa are at risk from meningitis, which can kill a child in six hours. | Millions of people in Africa are at risk from meningitis, which can kill a child in six hours. |
| The new vaccine, Globorix, cost more than $400 million (£204m) to develop, but will only be sold and used in Africa. It is aimed at meningitis A and C and will succeed an older vaccine called Titanrix - which covered hep B, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and haemophilus influenza. | The new vaccine, Globorix, cost more than $400 million (£204m) to develop, but will only be sold and used in Africa. It is aimed at meningitis A and C and will succeed an older vaccine called Titanrix - which covered hep B, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and haemophilus influenza. |
| The company does not expect to get its money back. | The company does not expect to get its money back. |
| GSK chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier says this is about a new way of doing business, not just good PR. | GSK chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier says this is about a new way of doing business, not just good PR. |
| "We have found a pretty clever way to fund therapeutic solutions for the developing world without essentially sacrificing the more traditional research we do around on diseases around the world," he said. | "We have found a pretty clever way to fund therapeutic solutions for the developing world without essentially sacrificing the more traditional research we do around on diseases around the world," he said. |
| New attitude | New attitude |
| But this isn't just about an attack of conscience - six years ago GSK and other big firms tried to sue the South African government for trying to buy cheap generic drugs to combat HIV and other diseases. | But this isn't just about an attack of conscience - six years ago GSK and other big firms tried to sue the South African government for trying to buy cheap generic drugs to combat HIV and other diseases. |
| In the face of world wide public outrage they backed down. | In the face of world wide public outrage they backed down. |
| Companies found themselves in a perfect storm - a PR disaster and a realisation that the old business model of profits above everything had to change. | Companies found themselves in a perfect storm - a PR disaster and a realisation that the old business model of profits above everything had to change. |
| There is a lot of room for improvement Anne Laure RoparsAcademic They looked for research funds from governments and charities, and teamed up with smaller firms in India and China. | There is a lot of room for improvement Anne Laure RoparsAcademic They looked for research funds from governments and charities, and teamed up with smaller firms in India and China. |
| As a result diseases once overlooked got more attention, said Anne Laure Ropars, an academic who has studied the way big firms deal with "neglected diseases". | As a result diseases once overlooked got more attention, said Anne Laure Ropars, an academic who has studied the way big firms deal with "neglected diseases". |
| Nevertheless, some critics say Globorix should be available more widely. | Nevertheless, some critics say Globorix should be available more widely. |
| 'Neglected diseases' | 'Neglected diseases' |
| Others point out that there are 12 big pharmaceutical firms worldwide but only four have centres specialising in diseases like TB, malaria and HIV. | Others point out that there are 12 big pharmaceutical firms worldwide but only four have centres specialising in diseases like TB, malaria and HIV. |
| "While a few companies such as GSK have sharply increased their research into drugs and vaccines for neglected diseases, there is still a lot of room for improvement across the board," Anne Laure Ropars said. | |
| Globorix could soon start coming off a production line at a factory in Belgium. | Globorix could soon start coming off a production line at a factory in Belgium. |
| Teaming up with people like Bill Gates means vaccines for malaria, TB and eventually Aids may follow. | Teaming up with people like Bill Gates means vaccines for malaria, TB and eventually Aids may follow. |
| It seems changing the way big pharmaceutical companies do business can also save lives. | It seems changing the way big pharmaceutical companies do business can also save lives. |
| Dr Richard Barker from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said: "This is only one of many things that the pharmaceutical companies are doing for the developing world. | Dr Richard Barker from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said: "This is only one of many things that the pharmaceutical companies are doing for the developing world. |
| "For the last five or six years the industry has spent something like two and a half billion of its own money developing medicines for neglected diseases, giving away or giving at cost medicines to sub Saharan Africa and elsewhere in the world. | "For the last five or six years the industry has spent something like two and a half billion of its own money developing medicines for neglected diseases, giving away or giving at cost medicines to sub Saharan Africa and elsewhere in the world. |
| "So this is not an isolated example of a general response." | "So this is not an isolated example of a general response." |