EVM (European Vaccine Manufacturers)
http://www.efpia.org/1_efpia/evm/evm.htm

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                               EBE (Emerging Biopharmaceutical Enterprises)
                             EVM (European Vaccine Manufacturers)

          European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM) is a specialised group
created within EFPIA (European Federation
          of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) in 1991 in order
to define and convey the industry's views
          on vaccine-related issues to public health and regulatory
authorities.

          On this page you will find the EVM fact sheets, as well as
information on EVM objectives, achievements
          and membership. If you would like to know more about vaccination
and the perspectives for the European
          vaccine manufacturers, click here.

          Please also note that EVM is organising its 5th Conference on
Vaccinology, "A Safe Future with
          Vaccination", from 21 to 23 March 2001 in Lucerne, Switzerland.
For details about this conference click
          here.

          For further information, please contact:
          Kathleen Vandendael - EVM Executive Manager
          Telephone: 32.2.626.25.47
          Fax: 32.2.626.25.66
          E-mail: kathleenvandendael@efpia.org

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          EVM Fact Sheets

          Below are EVM's most recent fact sheets, giving its views on
current issues of interest:

                   Vaccination among the elderly - Flu, pneumonia, tetanus

               Vaccine development: from laboratory to market and beyond

               Influenza

               UK vaccination campaign with new meningococcal conjugate
vaccines

               Prevention of Measles, Mumps and Rubella

               The recurrence of certain infectious diseases linked to a
fall in vigilance

               Travel and Hepatitis

               Vaccination: success and perspectives


          I. EVM Objectives

          To promote a favourable climate for improved vaccine protection
and coverage as well as for the sustained
          innovative capability of the European vaccine industry by:

               creating a more supportive regulatory environment;

               raising public and health authorities' awareness of what can
be achieved worldwide with vaccines
               and of new developments in this field;

               supporting relationships with European and international
bodies;

               stimulating research and development through:

                    dialogue with and the support of the European Commission;

                    the creation of a favourable environment for the
development of new technologies in the field
                    of vaccination by universities and other academic
institutions.


          II. EVM Achievements

               Recognition of EVM as an organisation representing a
specific sector of the pharmaceutical
               industry;

               Creation of working groups to raise vaccine-related issues
with European institutions;

               Drafting of position papers for discussion and review with
the appropriate authorities and audiences;

               Four European Conferences:

                    Annecy, 1992: "Vaccines for the World: the European
Contribution"

                    Brussels, 1994: "Combined Vaccines for Europe:
Pharmaceutical, Regulatory and
                    Policy-Making Aspects"

                    Berlin, 1996: "Building Lifelong Immunity"

                    Brighton, 1999: "Societal Value of Vaccination"


          III. Membership

          BAXTER-IMMUNO - Austria
          BERNA - Switzerland
          CHIRON VACCINES - Italy & Germany
          MEDEVA - United Kingdom
          AVENTIS PASTEUR MSD - France
          SMITHKLINE BEECHAM BIOLOGICALS - Belgium
          WYETH-LEDERLE VACCINES - Belgium


          IV. Characteristics of EVM Members

            1.Significant investment in innovative research and development
            2.Full range of vaccines
            3.High-quality standards
            4.EVM member companies together produce more than 1.5 billion
doses annually
            5.Major suppliers of vaccines used worldwide, producing
two-thirds of the vaccines used by UNICEF


          V. Why is vaccination gaining interest every day?

          Every year, infectious diseases cause illness or death in
millions of people. Vaccination can prevent much
          of this suffering and death and improve quality of life.

          Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective health
interventions around and it remains a key means of
          preventing infectious diseases and improving health throughout
the world.


          VI. Vaccine protection for all

               Childhood vaccination programmes are essential weapons in
the battle against infectious diseases,
               such as Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, Pertussis,
Hepatitis B, Heamophilus influenzae type bn
               Meningitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Tuberculosis.

               Vaccination can reduce the risk of serious infections for
adolescents and adults from diseases
               including Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza and
Pneumococcal diseases, as well as maintain
               immunity from previous vaccination by regular boosters.

               Certain vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g. Tuberculosis and
Pneumonia) are re-emerging due to
               epidemiological changes and increased resistance to
antibiotics. Vaccination policies therefore
               need to be revised and implemented.

               Coinciding with the recent changes in social structures in
Eastern Europe caused by war and civil
               disturbance, there has been a recurrence in diseases such as
Diphtheria and Poliomyelitis. High
               vaccination coverage rates are needed to prevent the risk of
infection and further transmission
               across Europe.

               People living in tropical countries or specific high-risk
areas and visitors to such regions should be
               protected against a wide range of vaccine-preventable
diseases such as Typhoid, Yellow Fever,
               Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tick-Borne Encephalitis,
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, and Tetanus.

               Occupational or professional risks may be reduced or
eliminated by immunisation against certain
               diseases such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Rabies.


          VII. Future perspectives for the European vaccine industry

          EVM members are working to combat infectious diseases and
continue to explore and adapt new
          biotechnology processes to improve vaccines by:

               Ensuring that vaccines of a consistently high quality,
safety and efficacy are continuously produced.
               Member companies offer a comprehensive range of vaccines for
worldwide use, either as single
               antigens or as combined vaccines.

               Improving current vaccines and developing innovative
approaches to delivery. Much effort is being
               devoted to combining certain antigens so as to simplify the
administration of multiple vaccines for all
               age groups.

               Developing new vaccines to meet public health needs in
combating diseases such as Hepatitis C,
               Herpes, Otitis Media, Meningitis A, B, C, AIDS, Lyme
Disease, Malaria, Papilloma Virus, RSV,
               PIV, Helicobacter Pylori and Zoster. This activity
represents a major investment by member
               companies.

               Researching and developing therapeutic applications of
existing and future vaccines for conditions
               such as chronic infectious diseases and certain forms of
cancer.


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