Reason for dispute to define the cost of the meningitis B vaccine, so that the drug can also be distributed in Great Britain
23 Mar 2015 – The MESSENGER Economy Finance
(Teleborsa) - The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline said it wants to conclude negotiations with the British Department of Health as soon as possible, to define the cost of its meningitis B vaccine, so that the drug can also be distributed in Great Britain.
"The UK's largest pharmaceutical company is in active discussions with the government," spokeswoman Catherine Hartley said. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt later told the BBC that he had already spoken to Glaxo chief executive Andrew Witty last week, hoping to reach an agreement soon. Glaxo, based in 
Brentford, England, bought the "Men B" vaccine from Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis last year.
The same vaccine has been approved for use in the United States and Europe, but disagreements over the price per dose have prevented its spread in Britain. The price of the 'Men B' vaccine is £75 for a single dose, but Secretary Hunt told the BBC that "the right price would be around £5 a dose". In Britain around 1,700 people a year contract meningitis B, which kills one in ten affected people. "We are confident in our proposition, which is well below list price," spokeswoman Hartley said in the statement.
