Unleashing Europe's biopharmaceutical innovation potential: An application to AIDS vaccine R&D (Completed 2008)
In 2007, we were commissioned by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to devise European policy incentives to increase private sector engagement and innovation in vaccine R&D for HIV/AIDS. The study aimed to identify the drivers and barriers to biotech involvement in HIV/AIDS vaccine R&D and assess opportunities for new European policies to stimulate innovation in this area.
The project was based on analysis of innovation gaps and sources, with extensive interviews with private sector stakeholders from large pharmaceutical firms, biotech companies and venture capital firms as well as those at the interface of public and private sectors such as university Technology Transfer Offices, philanthropic research institutions and academic entrepreneurs. These consultations were used to develop mechanisms to encourage innovation, including from new sources within the biotechnology sector, and to accelerate HIV/AIDS vaccine development. Specifically these recommendations aimed to bridge the innovation gap between academia and industry and in doing so facilitate the translation of innovative ideas into viable HIV vaccine products. The findings of this study were presented to the OECD at a workshop in November 2007. The final report which will incorporate feedback from the OECD workshop will be published in 2008.