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By keeping manufacturing and clinical trials in Canada, PREVENT will accelerate the rate at which essential vaccines reach the Canadian marketplace, resulting in earlier access. Beginning operation in mid-2008, PREVENT will make use of expertise at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, the Canadian Center for Vaccinology in Halifax and the BC Centre for Disease Control.

The PREVENT Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research

The Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise (PREVENT) will fast-track vaccine development for diseases of major public health concern, such as pandemic influenza, whooping cough, chlamydia, “mad cow” disease and severe diarrheal diseases. A non-profit corporation, PREVENT will accelerate the development of vaccines for both humans and animals, with a focus on pathogens transmitted from animals to humans. By absorbing the risk (see figure, right) that currently limits the uptake of early-stage vaccines, PREVENT will help strengthen the global competitiveness of the national vaccine industry and ensure that Canadians benefit from innovative vaccines for public health priorities.

Livestock vaccines represent ideal early candidates for the PREVENT pipeline, with possible targets including prion diseases and food-borne pathogens such as E. coli and Campylobacter species.

In addition to specific human and animal disease targets, PREVENT will assemble a portfolio of vaccine additives (adjuvants), immune-stimulating compounds and delivery devices to reduce adverse effects, enhance protection and enable improved delivery techniques. These approaches will also lower production costs.

First consulting with experts in public health, the vaccine industry and the investment community to identify promising vaccine candidates most likely to meet Canada’s health needs, PREVENT will then work with industry partners to advance these vaccine candidates to the marketplace.

PREVENT was created in 2008 through an award of $15 million through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program, with an additional $10.5 million in in-kind support from three primary stakeholders:

• VIDO/InterVac: The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) brings preclinical research capacity (Containment Level 2 laboratory and animal facilities) and is leading development of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), Canada’s largest Containment Level 3 laboratory dedicated to vaccine development and capable of testing vaccines for large animals.
• The Canadian Center for Vaccinology (a partnership among Dalhousie University, the IWK Health Centre and Capital Health): The CCfV brings a 30,000 square foot vaccine research centre for basic translational science, epidemiology and clinical trials (Phases I-III), and implementation and evaluative policy research.
• The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) delivers prevention services and conducts research on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and control of infectious diseases and environmental hazards. The BCCDC will contribute to PREVENT through vaccine antigen discovery methods (with secured patents) for respiratory viral diseases and sexually transmitted pathogens.

PREVENT’s objectives are:

• To establish comprehensive preclinical and early clinical programs for the development of new or improved vaccines of high public health priority
• To develop promising vaccine technologies from Canadian academia and biotech to the point where they become attractive candidates for commercialization
• To stimulate the growth of Canada’s vaccine industry by creating and fostering partnerships among the academic, industrial, governmental and not-for-profit sectors
• To strengthen Canada’s vaccine industry and attract new investment
• To mobilize expertise in areas of vaccine commercialization, including IP protection, regulatory filing, and identification of partnerships for commercial development
• To coordinate vaccine research and commercialization training programs in order to increase the pool of highly qualified personnel in vaccine discovery and development within Canada.

Based at the University of Saskatchewan, PREVENT will make use of existing infrastructure to minimize start-up costs. The PREVENT Board of Directors is expected to hold its first meeting in the spring of 2008. With 12-15 new positions to be filled, the centre is expected to be fully staffed within one year.

Media announcements

• May 2, 2008: Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise (PREVENT) announces board members, vaccine targets
• Feb. 18, 2008: Halifax-based vaccine research centre part of national initiative to combat global public health concerns
• Feb. 14, 2008: Government of Canada announces 11 new Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research
• Feb. 14, 2008: VIDO to lead centre of excellence in vaccine commercialization and research
• Feb. 14, 2008: BC CDC to play key role in PREVENT

For more information on PREVENT, please contact:

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