Dataset Information

Drug versus vaccine investment: a modelled comparison of economic incentives.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Investment by manufacturers in research and development of vaccines is relatively low compared with that of pharmaceuticals. If current evaluation technologies favour drugs over vaccines, then the vaccines market becomes relatively less attractive to manufacturers.

Methods

We developed a mathematical model simulating the decision-making process of regulators and payers, in order to understand manufacturers' economic incentives to invest in vaccines rather than curative treatments. We analysed the objectives and strategies of manufacturers and payers when considering investment in technologies to combat a disease that affects children, and the interactions between them.

Results

The model confirmed that, for rare diseases, the economically justifiable prices of vaccines could be substantially lower than drug prices, and that, for diseases spread across multiple cohorts, the revenues derived from vaccinating one cohort per year (routine vaccination) could be substantially lower than those generated by treating sick individuals.

Conclusions

Manufacturers may see higher incentives to invest in curative treatments rather than in routine vaccines. To encourage investment in vaccines, health authorities could potentially revise their incentive schemes by: (1) committing to vaccinate all susceptible cohorts in the first year (catch-up campaign); (2) choosing a long-term horizon for health technology evaluation; (3) committing higher budgets for vaccines than for treatments; and (4) taking into account all intangible values derived from vaccines.

SUBMITTER: Regnier SA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3846654 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Drug versus vaccine investment: a modelled comparison of economic incentives.

Régnier Stéphane A SA Huels Jasper J

Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E 20130908 1

<h4>Background</h4>Investment by manufacturers in research and development of vaccines is relatively low compared with that of pharmaceuticals. If current evaluation technologies favour drugs over vaccines, then the vaccines market becomes relatively less attractive to manufacturers.<h4>Methods</h4>We developed a mathematical model simulating the decision-making process of regulators and payers, in order to understand manufacturers' economic incentives to invest in vaccines rather than curative ...[more]

PMID: 24011090

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Dataset Information

Drug versus vaccine investment: a modelled comparison of economic incentives.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Drug versus vaccine investment: a modelled comparison of economic incentives.

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