<< return to program

Luis Barreto

Vice President, Immunization Policy & Scientific Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur Limited,
Ontario, Canada

New Developments in Human Vaccines

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
1:30 - 2:00 pm

Abstract:  Over the last century, vaccine research, development, manufacturing and commercialization in Canada has played an important role in the control of infectious diseases, both in Canada and globally. Innovation in biotechnology has and continues to provide new tools that can help Canada be a strategic global player in the field of vaccinology and the new bioeconomy.

Such biotech innovation has been built on a historical legacy of maintaining the delicate balance between human and animal health, a legacy that stretches back to Jenner’s first Vaccinia vaccine against smallpox at the end of the 18th century and Pasteur’s rabies vaccine near the end of the 19th. Indeed, animals have played a direct and critical role in the production and testing of antitoxins and insulin, and particularly in typhus, polio, smallpox and influenza vaccines for humans. Healthy animals have always been essential at all phases of production. The fruits of innovation have also been directed towards the development of a wide range of veterinary and human vaccines.

Canadian innovation in human and animal vaccines has been significant in the control of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. This presentation will highlight the Canadian contributions to this legacy and point to some of the promising vaccines in the pipeline.

Biography

Dr. Barreto is Vice President Immunization and Science Policy at Sanofi Pasteur. He was born and educated in India where he completed his medical degree and post-graduate degree in community medicine. He completed his master’s degree in community health and epidemiology and fellowship training in Community Medicine, at the University of Toronto. He worked as an epidemiologist for the government of the Northwest Territories and was the co-investigator in the first Haemophilus Influenza b trials in the North West territories.

At Sanofi Pasteur, he has held a number of positions including Director Medical and Clinical Affairs, Vice President Medical, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, and Director Corporate Public Policy-International Public Health Affairs. He is part of the Canadian Management Team and Global Immunization Policy team. He has led many clinical trials both in Canada and globally. Dr. Barreto has introduced various vaccines including acellular pertussis, Haemophilus Influenza type b and Polio combinations (PEDIACEL) which are used widely in Canada, the U.S. and Europe for children as well as vaccines for adolescents and Adults (ADACEL and ADACEL-Polio)

Published extensively in scientific journals, Dr. Barreto has managed bio-security issues for Sanofi Pasteur in Canada and has been part of the Sanofi Pasteur and Canadian Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Scientific advisory groups led by CIHR-III and PHAC. He has also represented Sanofi Pasteur in international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alliance of Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), IFPMA Biologics Group etc. He was part of the Canadian SARS Consortium led by CIHR-Institute of Infection and Immunity. He is a member of various boards including Research Canada, PREVENT, VIDO/InterVac (Chair).