Global Virus Network (GVN) Adds Sanofi Pasteur to GVN Healthcare & Pharma Centers of Excellence Coalition

BALTIMORE, March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The Global Virus Network ("GVN"), the world's leading coalition of virologists combatting current and emerging pandemic viral threats and viral causes of disease through international collaborative research response, by training the next generation of virologists and through education and advocacy, announced Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines global business unit of Sanofi, as its latest member of the GVN Healthcare and Pharma Center of Excellence Coalition, a groundbreaking, pioneering and collaborative strategic initiative that brings together and harnesses the expertise and resources of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies to lead the war against viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health and mankind. 

The announcement was jointly made by Christian Bréchot, MD, PhD, President of the GVN, Associate Vice President for International Partnerships and Innovation at University of South Florida (USF), and Professor, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the GVN Southeast U.S. Regional Headquarters, Jim Tartaglia, PhD, Vice-President R&D, Sanofi Pasteur and Robert Gallo, MD, The Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, Co-Founder and Director of the institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a GVN Center of Excellence, and Co-Founder and International Scientific Advisor of the GVN. 

The current pandemic, the proliferation of other viral threats such as Ebola, dengue, Zika or yellow fever as well as the interplay between viruses such as HTLV, HPV, HBV and HCV with cancer, are yet other examples of the critical need to pool global resources and urgently address viral threats.  With partners such as Sanofi Pasteur, the GVN is tightly connected to public and private sector entities to develop effective and sustainable scientific solutions to address viral threats and viral causes of disease.

"I am pleased to announce that the GVN is launching our Healthcare and Pharma Center of Excellence Coalition to bring industry partners together in a collaborative, consequential and meaningful way," said Dr. Bréchot. "Pharmaceutical industry leaders, such as Sanofi Pasteur and other coalition members such as Abbott, add tremendous value to the field of virology with vast resources towards training and research and development, as well as a commitment to advance scientific data."

The international business community in general, and the global pharmaceutical industry, are essential to effectively stem the spread of viral diseases worldwide. Such partners are critical in preparedness against potential pandemics and in stopping the spread of viruses as they appear.  Viruses, viral disease and epidemics and the resultant health problems know no boundaries and spread rapidly beyond national borders causing fear, panic and uncertainty in addition to untold and potentially devastating economic and social consequences. As we well know from the current pandemic, businesses and corporations throughout the world are neither prepared nor immune and, for this reason, must collaborate, partner and work with organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Global Virus Network to mitigate, be prepared for and respond to viruses, viral disease and epidemics that are becoming far more commonplace, dangerous and harmful.

"Sanofi Pasteur is a world leader in influenza and pediatric and booster vaccines and the largest supplier of polio injectable vaccines worldwide," said Dr. Tartaglia. "We are dedicated to supporting people's well-being through world-class collaborations that span major universities, research institutes, government bodies, biotechnology companies and contract research organizations. The GVN provides a unique platform for our company's researchers to collaborate with top global experts and advance, research and training opportunities. The current pandemic has re-enforced the need for such collaboration and we are excited to work with the GVN to expand these efforts."

"We look forward to growing GVN's industry partnerships with organizations such as Sanofi and Abbott as they are interested in a direct dialogue and collaborative partnership with scientists at the leading edge of viral research and drug and vaccine development," said Dr. Gallo. "Our partnerships help train the next generation of virologists to understand what they need to do as scientists working in the industry. Should these researchers decide to pursue a career in academia and want to see some of their discoveries developed into a product, they will have a good idea about what an industry partner needs. Further, the Coalition partnership will equip candidates with the entrepreneurial spirit that will enable them to pursue a promising career in academia and/or industry."

The GVN is a global authority and resource for the identification and investigation, interpretation and explanation, control and suppression, of viral diseases posing threats to mankind. It enhances the international capacity for reactive, proactive and interactive activities that address mankind-threatening viruses and addresses a global need for coordinated virology training through scholarly exchange programs for recruiting and training young scientists in human and animal virology. The GVN also serves as a resource to governments and international organizations seeking advice about viral disease threats, prevention or response strategies, and GVN advocates for research and training on virus infections and their many disease manifestations. 

About the Global Virus Network (GVN)
The Global Virus Network (GVN) is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense and first research response to emerging, existing and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health, working in close coordination with established national and international institutions. It is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 62 Centers of Excellence and 11 Affiliates in 34 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews.

SOURCE Global Virus Network

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