GlaxoSmithKline to provide discount vaccines to GAVI Alliance

GlaxoSmithKline is to provide the international vaccines group GAVI Alliance with cut-price access to bulk quantities of treatments for use in third-world countries.

The new agreement will allow the public-private health organisation to purchase supplies of GlaxoSmithKline's rotavirus vaccine Rotarix for a third of the standard price, thus allowing GAVI Alliance to provide treatments for three million children in eight countries.

As part of the same agreement, Merck Sharpe and Dohme will also offer supplies of its treatment Rotateq under similar terms, which will help to combat one of the leading causes of death among under-fives in the world, reports Reuters.

A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline said: "Rotavirus vaccine has demonstrated real-world life-saving impact on reducing deaths. We have a chance here to collaborate in programmes designed to protect millions of children."

This comes after the company applied for US and European regulatory approval of a new therapy for influenza last month, which offers efficacy against disease types A and B.