Challenges

The healthcare shield against infectious diseases that Lyonbiopôle is developing meets two types of major challenges involving public health and the economy.

Public health challenges

Infectious diseases are the second-leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular diseases. The public health challenges involve:

1 - The emergence and re-emergence of certain infectious diseases with dramatic health consequences

Since 1973, more than 30 unknown diseases associated with viruses or bacteria have appeared (including Legionnaire’s Disease, Ebola, AIDS and Avian Flu). There are not yet vaccines for most of these recent infections, such as Hepatitis C. The hepatitis virus afflicts more than 170 million people around the world. The WHO estimates that every year more than 3 million people are fatally infected with it.

Other diseases are reappearing. For example the endemo-epidemic of dengue fever (hemorrhage fever) afflicts 50 million people every year and kills more than 25,000 (WHO statistics).

2 - The risks of potential animal-to-human transmission

Some of these diseases, such as Avian Flu, also illustrate the risk of animal-to-human transmission, generating pandemic risks at the planetary scale.

According to the French National Institute of Health Surveillance (INVS) more than 10 million people could be affected if the H5N1 virus were to adapt to Man, leading to a high rate of mortality.

3 - The release of biological agents

The events of September 11, 2001 and the ongoing threat of bioterrorist attacks (such as the release of anthrax spores in the USA) illustrate the need to anticipate this type of threat. Thus, sanofi pasteur has developped a smallpox vaccine and specialists concur in emphasizing the need for epidemiological surveillance.

4 - Virally induced cancers

More than 20% of cancers are believed to be caused by a virus or bacteria. Some cancers (including cervical cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer and lymphoma) can be prevented via the development of vaccines. New immunological therapies are also currently being engineered.

Economic challenges

Global competition on highly dynamic markets

The healthcare field is extremely competitive. The ranking of major pharmaceutical companies shows that the traditional hierarchy (dominated by American firms) can be shaken up. In 2005, European groups such as GSK (2^nd worldwide), Sanofi Aventis (3^rd) and Novartis (4^th) strengthened their positions behind the world’s leading pharmaceutical producer, the American firm Pfizer.

All of these firms are active in the highly dynamic vaccine segment.

In this segment, Lyon-area firms sanofi pasteur (in human vaccines) and Merial (in veterinary pharmaceuticals) are world leaders.

Consolidating Lyon’s position in the field of vaccines (a product which has grown by 12% over the last 5 years) is thus essential to maintaining the dynamism of the Lyon/ Rhône-Alpes biotech industry.

In 2005, as a consequence of the epidemiological context, the vaccines market grew by 25%.

The market for human vaccines could double in 4 years time, moving from €7 billion to €15 billion.

The diagnostics market has grown by 6% and certain particularly dynamic segments such as quick tests are increasing by 15% per year.

In order to meet these health challenges and maintain the competitiveness of its partner firms on these markets, Lyonbiopôle has laid out ambitious strategic.