Global coalition launched to protect against epidemics
CEPI aims to lessen the amount of time it takes to develop new vaccines.
A new global partnership to prevent epidemics with vaccines has launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) seeks to outsmart emerging infectious diseases by developing safe and effective vaccines before they emerge.
The project is funded by the governments of Germany, Norway, Japan, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.
“Ebola and Zika showed that the world is tragically unprepared to detect local outbreaks and respond quickly enough to prevent them from becoming global pandemics. Without investments in research and development, we will remain unequipped when we face the next threat,” said Bill Gates, chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“The ability to rapidly develop and deliver vaccines when new ‘unknown’ diseases emerge offers our best hope to outpace outbreaks, save lives and avert disastrous economic consequences. CEPI is a great example of how supporting innovation and R&D can help the world to address some of its most pressing health challenges.”
CEPI also aims to lessen the amount of time it takes to develop new vaccines by capitalising on developments in adaptable vaccine technology and investing in facilities that could respond quickly to previously unknown pathogens.
So far, the partnership has already raised half of the $1bn it needs for its first five years. It is now calling on researchers and companies around the world to support the development of the development of vaccines against its first target diseases.
To start, CEPI will target the MERS-CoV, Lassa and Nipah viruses. It aims to develop two promising vaccine candidates against each of these diseases before they cause serious epidemics.
CEPI will also look for potential support for vaccines against the various strains of Zika, Ebola ad Marburg viruses.
“We know from Ebola, Zika and SARS that epidemics are among the significant threats we face to life, health and prosperity,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust.
“Vaccines can protect us, but we’ve done too little to develop them as an insurance policy. CEPI is our chance to learn the lessons of recent tragedies, and outsmart epidemics with new vaccine defences. If others join us in supporting CEPI, we can realise our goal of creating a safer world.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
