Background
On 26-28 June 2018, WHO’s Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee (PDVAC) was convened for its 5th annual meeting. Over two days, progress was discussed in vaccine and monoclonal antibody development for the 10 previously prioritized pathogen areas (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, Influenza, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Group B Streptococcus (GBS), Group A Streptococcus (GAS), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC) and Shigella spp), and also for three new pathogens with candidates in, or approaching, clinical development (Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (NTS)). Several cross-cutting topics were considered, such as the potential role of vaccines in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and two new vaccine product development initiatives, namely Total Systems Effectiveness (TSE) and the Vaccine Innovation Prioritization Strategy (VIPS), were presented. The third day consisted of a closed session with the PDVAC members to deliberate over recommendations.
The high-level summary of the major activities and advances in the product development of vaccines and other technologies since the June 2017 PDVAC meeting can be found below, along with PDVACs’ recommendations (executive summary).