PATH boosts leadership in developing and introducing urgently needed vaccines

Seattle, September 6, 2017—Building on decades of innovation in vaccine development and immunization, PATH announced today it has received a $120 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to further strengthen its PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA), which works across every stage of vaccine research, development, and introduction for diseases in low-resource settings.

PATH also announced that several global experts in vaccine development and introduction have joined PATH CVIA to advance these critical vaccine efforts.

"We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop and introduce vaccines for the families and communities that need them most," commented Steve Davis, president and CEO of PATH. "We are working on vaccines against over a dozen deadly diseases and partnering with governments and companies around the world to save lives and improve health through vaccine innovation and immunization."

CVIA operates across the entire vaccine development and delivery spectrum—from preclinical research on novel candidates through pivotal clinical evaluations and, ultimately, innovative approaches for new vaccine introduction.

"From specific vaccine successes against Meningitis A and Japanese encephalitis to game-changing immunization supply chain technologies like the vaccine vial monitor, PATH has an impressive track record in saving lives through vaccine innovations," commented Trevor Mundel, president of Global Health for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "We are delighted to support CVIA, a center of excellence for vaccine development and introduction."

PATH is known for its deep engagement with multiple partners, including national immunization program managers and ministries of health to provide crucial insights; scientists and clinical researchers to develop and evaluate novel approaches to vaccines in real-world conditions; manufacturers to accelerate development; global agencies like the World Health Organization and UNICEF; financing bodies like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and governments to support immunization implementation. PATH works with communities to understand their needs and priorities, and gain commitment to pricing and distribution strategies that ensure accessibility, availability, affordability, acceptability, and sustainability.

PATH welcomed new experts in vaccine development and introduction who have joined the CVIA leadership team:

• Fred Cassels, global head, Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases, served as chief of the Enteric and Hepatic Diseases Branch at the National Institutes of Health.
• Bruce Innis, global head, Respiratory Infections and Maternal Immunization, brings his experience with GlaxoSmithKline, most recently as vice president and senior vaccine development leader for Influenza and Dengue Vaccines, and previous experience with the US Army as chief of the Department of Virus Diseases at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
• Harshvardhan (Hersh) Mehta, global head, Development (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), has over two decades of experience in senior roles for Merck, Sanofi, MedImmune, and Roche.
• Karen Midthun, global head, Regulatory, served as director of the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research between 2009 and 2016 and served during the prior 16 years in progressively senior roles within FDA.

"It is an honor to welcome these world-renowned vaccine authorities to PATH," commented David C. Kaslow, PATH vice president for Essential Medicines and global head of CVIA. "Together with PATH's existing expertise, these new leaders will help PATH and our partners bring lifesaving and affordable vaccines to people living in the poorest communities around the world."

PATH veterans taking on new roles to round out the CVIA leadership team include:

• Deborah Atherly, global head, Policy, Access, & Introduction.
• Ashley Birkett, global head, Malaria Vaccines.
• Jorge Flores, global head, Clinical.
• John Konz, global head, Integrated Portfolio & Financial Management.
• Jessica Milman, managing director, CVIA.
• Katya Spielberg, global head, Finance & Contract Management.

"We're proud of our two decades of developing and delivering vaccines that are saving millions of lives," added Steve Davis, president and CEO of PATH. "With this solid base of funding and this world-class team, PATH can do even more to combat age-old scourges and emerging threats."