Satellite Symposia Information

All sessions will be held in the Fenix room
14 Sep 2008	12:00	13:00	Lunch
14 Sep 2008	13:00	14:30	GSK Biologicals
14 Sep 2008	15:00	16:30	Solvay Biologicals
14 Sep 2008	16:45	18:15	Baxter
15 Sep 2008	07:00	08:30	Infectious Diseases Society of Finland
15 Sep 2008	12:00	13:30	EVM lunch symposium
15 Sep 2008	18:00	19:30	Hoffmann-La Roche
16 Sep 2008	07:00	08:30	Sanofi Pasteur MSD
16 Sep 2008	18:00	19:30	Novartis
17 Sep 2008	07:00	08:30	Sanofi Pasteur

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
14 September 2008 13:00-14:30

12.00 - 13.00 Lunch Sponsored by GSK

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals is proud to announce that it is sponsoring the lunch immediately prior to its satellite symposium on Sunday 14 September. All delegates are warmly invited to attend the lunch and the symposium.

13.00 – 14.30 GSK symposium

The first prepandemic influenza vaccine, based on the H5N1 influenza strain , recently received marketing authorisation in Europe. Pre-pandemic vaccines offer the potential to protect populations against the devastating effects of an influenza pandemic before a vaccine based on the exact pandemic strain can be produced. During this opening symposium, mathematical models showing the potential impact of containment and mitigation strategies using pre-pandemic influenza vaccines will be presented, together with preclinical and clinical data for these vaccines. Furthermore, the response of the European public health authorities, with regard to policy on stockpiling and use of these vaccines will be presented. Several European countries have led the way by stockpiling pre-pandemic influenza vaccines representing a significant population coverage and this will also be discussed. We welcome you to join us for this session, which promises to be both informative and thought-provoking.

Opening remarks

• What does mathematical modelling predict about prepandemic influenza vaccines?, Prof. Neil Ferguson (Imperial College, London, UK)
• Clinical and preclinical data supporting prepandemic vaccination, Prof. Albert Osterhaus (Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands)
• European public health policy on stockpiling and use of prepandemic vaccines, Prof. Jonathan Nguyen-Van-Tam (University of Nottingham, UK)

Concluding Remarks

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Solvay Biologicals
14 September 2008 15:00-16:30

Introduction
The aim of this symposium is to gain more understanding of the interaction between science, mass media and public health:

• How does media publicity affect health-care consumers?
• What are the public health implications of media publicity about scientific debates on health issues?
• How can policymakers, opinion leaders, health-care professionals and scientists deal with media hypes?

International experts will share their views with you on the societal implications of a hype surrounding influenza vaccination. The process and the forces exerted on public health in the cases that will be discussed here, are also conceivable in the event of e.g. reports of efficacy issues, supposed side-effects and similar problems. The key question in all these cases is: How can stakeholders properly uphold the objectives of public health in the light of scientific uncertainty and a possible media hype?

Programme

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Joachim Wegener
• Global Senior Vice President External Affairs
• Solvay Pharmaceuticals

Introduction
Simon Rozendaal (chair of the symposium), chief scientific editor and columnist for the Dutch high quality weekly magazine Elsevier.

Keynote Lecture
Media Hype on Health Issues: Opportunity or Threat?
Peter Marsh, Chartered Psychologist and Co-director of the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford, UK

Expert Panel
Scientific Debate and Mass Communication

• Nicola Hill, journalist and public communicator
• Angus Nicoll, coordinator of the influenza activities at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• Peter Marsh, Chartered Psychologist and Co-director of the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford, UK
• Albert Osterhaus, head of the Department of Virology at the Erasmus University Medical Centre (Erasmus MC) in Rotterdam

All panel experts are providing their expert opinions as private individuals and do not represent organisations or institutes.

The sponsor
Solvay Pharmaceuticals is facilitating this event, triggered by developments in the media and in the public health sector. As a research-driven group of companies that constitute the global pharmaceutical business of the Solvay Group, Solvay Pharmaceuticals seeks to fulfil carefully selected, unmet medical needs. The Solvay Group aims at maintaining a close and mutually beneficial dialogue with all stakeholders to foster common interests, hence contributing to the sustainable development of our society.

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Baxter
14 September 2008 16:45-18:15

16:45 – 16:55	Opening remarks John Oxford St. Bart’s and the London, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine London, UK
16:55 – 17:20	Vero cell technology and H5N1 influenza vaccines - a unique combination – the whole (virus) story Noel Barrett Baxter AG, Vienna, Austria
17:20 – 17:40	Whole virus vaccines for pre-pandemic vaccination Karl Nicholson Department of Infectious Diseases, Immunity & Inflammation University of Leicester, UK
17:40 – 18:00	Mathematical modeling of an influenza pandemic – the impact of prime-boost scenarios on public health Ira Longini Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Inst.; Hutchinson Res. Center, Seattle, USA
18:00 – 18:15	What is the role of H5N1 vaccines in pandemic planning? A moderated discussion John Oxford London, UK

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Infectious Diseases Society of Finland
15 September 2008 07:00-08:30

SHOULD CHILDREN BE VACCINATED AGAINST INFLUENZA?

Several studies carried out in recent years have provided accumulating evidence for the great disease burden of influenza in children. Increasing data on the impact of influenza on children and the central role of children in the transmission of influenza have initiated an intensive discussion about more widespread vaccination of children against influenza. In the United States and Canada, influenza vaccination has been recommended for young children already for a couple of years. In Europe, however, Finland is so far the only country that has implemented an active influenza vaccination program for young children.

The aim of this symposium is to provide the audience with the latest information about the impact of influenza in children and the safety and efficacy of both the conventional and newer influenza vaccines in this age group. We will also discuss the influenza vaccine program for children in the United States and the lessons learned there. We are looking forward to a lively discussion on the need for influenza vaccination of children especially from a European perspective.

Welcome and introduction
Terho Heikkinen, University of Turku, Finland

Epidemiology and disease burden of influenza in children
Terho Heikkinen, University of Turku, Finland

Safety and efficacy of influenza vaccines in children
Timo Vesikari, University of Tampere, Finland

Influenza vaccine program for children in the United States
David K. Shay, Influenza Division, CDC, United States

Questions and answers

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EVM lunch symposium
15 September 2008 12:00-13:30

Influenza vaccination is recommended in the majority of EU Member States for people aged over 60 or 65 years old and younger adults with chronic conditions associated with high risk of influenza complications (the conditions varies depending on each country). However, new independent research in a number of EU member States shows vaccination rates are substantially higher in the elderly than those targeted for specific risk factors. In contrast to the approach in many European countries, US recommendations target all individuals aged 50 and over as this group has an increased prevalence of high risk conditions. This symposium will review vaccination policies in Europe and the US and assess the cost-effectiveness of an age-based strategy to improve vaccine uptake in targeted groups at increased risk of complications.

Opening remarks
Dr Luc Hessel, chair of the EVM Influenza Pandemic Working Group

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Recommendations: an Overview
Dr Kristin Nichol, Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota, USA

The Public Health Value of Age Based Strategies
Prof Paolo Bonanni, Chair of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Florence, Public Health Department, Italy

Panel Discussion: “How to improve the Effectiveness of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Strategies in Europe”

Moderator:
Prof Karl Nicholson, Professor of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, UK

Panelists:

• Dr Ted Van Essen, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands
• Prof Bruno Lina, President of the Scientific Committee of GEIG (Groupe d’Expertise et d’Information sur la Grippe), Lyon, France
• Prof Hubert Hrabcik, Ministry of Health, Austria

Closing remarks
Prof Karl Nicholson

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Hoffmann-La Roche
15 September 2008 18:00-19:00

Symposium highlights

• Latest developments and discoveries with oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and other antivirals from the 2007/2008 influenza season
• Emerging data on oseltamivir in the treatment of human infections with the highly-pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus
• Critical role of primary care physicians in an influenza pandemic and their current levels of preparedness
• Interactive discussion on the available pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for pandemic influenza

Programme and faculty
17:30	Light refreshments in the Fenix room
18:00	Welcome (Robert Booy, Australia)
18:05	Where are we now? Insights from the 2007/2008 influenza season (Bruno Lina, France)
18:25	A new direction: oseltamivir therapy against avian influenza A(H5N1) (Jonathan Van Tam, UK)
18:45	Charting a course: primary care and the next influenza pandemic (John Watkins, UK)
19:00	Beyond the horizon: antivirals and pre-pandemic vaccines in an influenza pandemic (Robert Booy, Australia)
19:20	Q&A
19:30	Close

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Sanofi Pasteur MSD
16 September 2008 07:00-08:30

Chaired by Pr Jonathan Van-Tam, on Tuesday, September 16th from 7:00 to 8:30.

The human immune system undergoes age-associated alterations. This process, called Immunosenescence, leads to increased incidence and severity of infectious diseases and to reduced responses to vaccination, as demonstrated for example in Flu vaccination.

Vaccines administered intradermally have been shown to induce robust immune responses and may lead to immune enhancement in populations with poorly responsive immune systems such as elderly. Indeed, the skin offers an attractive immune environment with the presence of numerous dendritic cells and intense lymphatic drainage.

Results from clinical trials conducted with a new intradermal influenza vaccine developed for adults aged 60 years and over will be presented during the symposium.

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Novartis
16 September 2008 18:00-19:30

Influenza remains a serious health threat due to the morbidity and mortality caused by frequent seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics. Despite the proven efficacy of influenza vaccination, more immunogenic and cross-protective vaccines are needed to address the challenges of immunosenescence in the elderly, vaccine mismatch caused by antigenic drift, and the uncertainty of the virus strain that will cause the next influenza pandemic.

The symposium will begin with a review of vaccine enhancements needed to meet current challenges of influenza vaccination. The role of adjuvants in increasing vaccine immunogenicity and cross-reactivity will be presented, including the preclinical effects and immunologic mode of action of MF59. The safety and enhanced immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of MF59-adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccination in the elderly will be reviewed. Finally, the potential role of MF59-adjuvanted H5N1 vaccines in confronting pandemic influenza will be discussed.

Welcome and introduction
Kristin Nichol, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

Meeting the challenge of antigenic drift and immune senescence: Why do we need adjuvants?
Kristin Nichol, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

Not all adjuvants are the same: How is MF59 different?
Giuseppe Del Guidice, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Siena, Italy

Enhancing and broadening vaccine immune responses in the elderly
Joan Puig-Barbera, Public Health Centre, Castellón, Valencia, Spain

Confronting pandemic influenza: needs, possibilities and the future
Iain Stephenson, University Hospitals of Leicester, UK

Question and answer session
All

Closing remarks
Kristin Nichol, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA

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Sanofi Pasteur
17 September 2008 07:00-08:30

On behalf of Sanofi Pasteur, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the satellite symposium on Pandemic Preparedness.

“How to run a marathon while preparing for a sprint” is a sporting metaphor that can be easily applied to the challenges facing the many stakeholders preparing for a crisis such as an influenza pandemic – a challenge at least as universal in scope as the recent Olympic Games.

The preparedness “marathon” is to maintain high levels of commitment and investment over a long period of time with the goal of being ready for the starting gun of the final sprint – the declaration of a pandemic. This final sprint will only be successful if all the runners are kept on the same track since a coordinated response with clear interactions will be required to ensure optimal response in the fastest way.

Throughout this symposium, speakers each representing the different stakeholders will share with us their vision on the long-term, resource-intense efforts required for effective pandemic preparedness.

I look forward to meeting you at the symposium.

Dr Beatrice De Vos
Vice-President Global Scientific and Medical Affairs,
Sanofi Pasteur, France

Programme

Crisis management: the importance of leadership, coordination and communication Lucian Hudson - Foreign and Commonwealth Office - UK

How to be best prepared for the final sprint? Claire Leininger - Sanofi Pasteur - France

Preparing for a potential influenza pandemic: the Just in time vs Just in case paradox Fiona Garin - Becton Dickinson - Spain

Governments' preparation to ensure effective immunization of populations in case of an influenza pandemic Alexandra Conseil - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - UK

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