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March 22, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"State Plans a $77M Lab for Vaccines, New Drugs"

Boston Globe (www.boston.com/globe) (03/21/02) P. A1; Smith, Stephen

The University of Massachusetts is planning to build an 80,000-square-foot drug laboratory on the grounds of the old Boston State Hospital in Mattapan.  The new $77 million laboratory, which is scheduled to open in 2005, will enable the state of Massachusetts to significantly expand its mission of producing vaccines and treatments for rare diseases across the United States.  While many universities and health departments have given the job of manufacturing jobs to the private sector, Massachusetts has continued its century-old policy of working on public health issues.  For example, Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories is one of only two manufacturers of the tetanus vaccine in America, and when a shortage of the vaccine occurred last year, the laboratory increased production and was able to provide an additional 1 million doses for people living outside the state.  In addition to creating thousands of doses of vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus, the state is also planning to manufacture "orphan" drugs.  According to officials at the Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories, "orphan" drugs are medications used to treat rare diseases, but which are unable to generate enough profit to attract the interest of drug manufacturers.

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