title: The Evolution of the Meningitis Vaccine Project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2001, the Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP) was tasked to develop, test, license, and introduce a group A meningococcal (MenA) conjugate vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa. African public health officials emphasized that a vaccine price of less than US$0.50 per dose was necessary to ensure introduction and sustained use of this new vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially, MVP envisioned partnering with a multinational vaccine manufacturer, but the target price and opportunity costs were problematic and formal negotiations ended in 2002. MVP chose to become a "virtual vaccine company," and over the next decade managed a network of public-private and public-public partnerships for pharmaceutical development, clinical development, and regulatory submission. MVP supported the transfer of key know-how for the production of group A polysaccharide and a new conjugation method to the Serum Institute of India, Ltd, based in Pune, India. A robust staff structure supported by technical consultants and overseen by advisory groups in Europe and Africa ensured that the MenA conjugate vaccine would meet all international standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A robust project structure including a team of technical consultants and 3 advisory groups in Europe and Africa ensured that the MenA conjugate vaccine (PsA-TT, MenAfriVac) was licensed by the Drug Controller General of India and prequalified by the World Health Organization in June 2010. The vaccine was introduced in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in December 2010.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development, through a public-private partnership, of a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa, PsA-TT, offers a new paradigm for the development of vaccines specifically targeting populations in resource-poor countries.
authors.affiliation: PATH, Ferney-Voltaire, France.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tiffay
authors.affiliation: Pfizer, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jodar
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Systems and Innovation, World Health Organization.
authors.forename: Marie-Paule
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kieny
authors.affiliation: PATH, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Socquet
authors.affiliation: Serum Institute of India, Ltd, Pune.
authors.forename: F Marc
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: LaForce
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007391:International Cooperation; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D018581:Technology Transfer; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: C573970:MenAfriVac; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines
keywords: meningitis vaccine; project structure; public health impact; public–private partnership; vaccine development model