GSK and Merck Battle for HPV Vaccine Market Share in China
Merck’s Gardasil dominates the HPV vaccine market in the U.S. and Europe generating $2.17 billion in sales in 2016 compare to GSK’s Cervarix sale of only $81 million. GSK hopes to revive its sales after receiving approval to market its HPV vaccine in China last year.
GSK partnered with China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba utilizing Taobao mobile application, Alibaba’s health platform. The mobile app provides users with HPV and cervical education, consultations, and an option to arrange Cervarix immunization appointments in over 1,500 community health centers in China. Also, GSK hopes to get Cervarix listed on China’s National Immunization Program which will be a huge boost for GSK by increasing accessibility of the vaccine to a larger population.
Merck, on the other hand, received approval for Gardasil this May and has contracted back in 2012 with a Chinese firm, Zhifei Biological Products, which specializes in marketing vaccines. Zhifei agreed to buy $166 million worth of Gardasil first year after approval and another $216 million and $268 million following two years.
Sources
http://www.fiercepharma.com/vaccines/glaxosmithkline-partners-alibaba-for-china-hpv-vaccine-market-grab
http://www.fiercepharma.com/vaccines/merck-s-gardasil-heads-against-gsk-s-cervarix-china-first-year-sales-planned-at-166m