Magic Shots

The global vaccine market is set to almost double by the year 2010—it is expected to reach $21.05 billion by 2010 from $11.42 billion in 2006—fuelled by unprecedented product innovations and global recognition of the benefits of immunisation. But just a few years ago, vaccine makers were leaving the field, citing low profits and high production costs. Now, new vaccines are hitting the market in adult, therapeutic and influenza vaccine segments.

With healthcare reforms underway in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Indian vaccine makers are bidding on capitalising the opportunity round the corner. In the last couple of years, it has become possible to produce new types of vaccines, which consist of smaller entities of the disease-provoking micro organisms, such as proteins, peptides, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The advantages of the new vaccines are improved efficacy, less side-effects and at the same time, preventing the risk of catching the disease.

In addition, domestic vaccine makers are looking to strengthen their operations—research and development (R&D) as well as marketing—to capitalise on opportunities emerging from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The pressures of rising costs for the global vaccine manufacturers has enabled the regional vaccine manufacturers from

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