Host: Romily Broad, Tech For Good
Guest: Thomas Lingelbach, Founder and CEO, Valneva
Thomas Lingelbach is CEO and Co-founder of Valneva, a specialty vaccine company at the forefront of combating infectious diseases intensified by climate change.
We explore how a warming and increasingly mobile world is escalating the risk and impact of vector-born diseases such as Lyme, chikungunya, and Zika, which are spreading into new regions as environmental conditions shift.
Lingelbach offers a unique perspective on the urgent need for novel vaccines, describing Valneva’s founding mission to address high unmet medical needs through science and innovation.
Valneva is nearing completion in a collaborative effort with Pfizer to develop a Lyme disease vaccine. The vaccine candidate is now in its final clinical trial phase and has the potential to make a huge difference to millions exposed to the tick-born disease, particularly in northern-hemisphere countries such as the USA and across Europe.
In the face of climate change, we discuss the logistical, economic, and ethical challenges of getting life-saving vaccines to the communities most at risk, emphasizing the vital role of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles in the company’s operations. Lingelbach reveals Valneva’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing and reducing environmental impact, as well as the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in accelerating vaccine development and predicting future outbreaks.
A fascinating talk in which we consider how science, global cooperation, and innovative thinking are helping to safeguard human health in an era of unprecedented environmental change.
