Following a transparent and competitive procurement process, Zoetis has been appointed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as one of two approved vaccine suppliers to the Rabies Vaccine Bank for four years.
The Rabies Vaccine Bank aims to contribute to the OIE’s members’ objectives to reach zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
“We are very pleased to be selected as a preferred partner by OIE in the global fight against rabies,” said Rimma Driscoll, senior vice president, global business development at Zoetis. “The decision reflects the quality and efficacy of Zoetis vaccines together with our commitment and ability to raise awareness, as well as engage with and train health stakeholders in different regions.
“We at Zoetis are committed to combating diseases that pose the greatest risk to animals and people; supplying this global Rabies Vaccine Bank is a recognition of our capabilities to fight transboundary and zoonotic diseases.”
Vaccine banks were created by the OIE to ensure the ready availability of high-quality vaccines manufactured in line with OIE international standards, particularly for developing countries. One of the advantages of the mechanism is to facilitate procurement processes so that local governments and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) can concentrate on the implementation of vaccination programs and have a reliable supply of quality vaccines at an acceptable price.
Glenn David, executive vice president and group president at Zoetis said: “Working with the OIE and in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate dog-mediated rabies is a major Zoetis One Health sustainability goal and a unique opportunity to further strengthen our working relationships for tackling many other diseases that impact animals and people.”
According to the OIE, 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases have an animal origin. With that in mind, one of the company’s goals within its Driven to Care long-term sustainability initiative is to combat diseases that pose the greatest risk to animals and humans.
Through its Center for Transboundary and Emerging Diseases (CTED), Zoetis has developed vaccines for high-impact emerging diseases around the world, including avian influenza, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, schmallenberg virus, hendra virus and canine influenza.
The Center continues to work on vaccines for foot and mouth disease and African swine fever. Through the CTED, Zoetis is monitoring approximately 200 diseases identified by the WHO as zoonotic, including avian influenza, rabies, lyme disease, West Nile virus and SARS-CoV-2.
Over 26 million doses of rabies vaccine have been delivered or ordered by countries in Africa and Asia since the OIE Rabies Vaccine Bank was created. It is currently one of two active vaccine banks organized by the OIE, the other is for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
The WHO places many orders for rabies vaccines via the OIE Rabies Vaccine Bank.
OIE Rabies Vaccine Bank have been supported financially by a number of countries and organizations including Australia, Canada, China, the EU, France, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Nine vaccine producers entered bids for the contract and a technical and financial appraisal of each was conducted by an independent selection committee based on specific criteria. The Zoetis offer was chosen to be one of the two approved suppliers of canine rabies vaccines until 2025. The rabies vaccine to be supplied by Zoetis has been approved in multiple markets.
