A phenomenal partnership of £90m ($148.6m) was announced by Merck with the Wellcome Trust to jointly develop vaccines for the developing countries.

Ideas of the academic scientists along with the technical experience of researchers from all pharmaceutical companies will combine in an effort to develop effective and reasonably priced vaccines. A staff of 60 will be based in India under the name of MSD Wellcome Trust Hilleman Laboratories.

"Developing vaccines requires a combination of the ingenuity of academics, with the know-how and ability to make products which is brought by industry", said Sir Mark Wolpert, head of the Wellcome Trust, one of the world's largest medical charities.

It's a new endeavor to combine public and private sector funding and expertise in a non-profit medical organization. This is an addition to the already existing partnerships funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on vaccines for specific diseases.

New vaccines will be developed and old ones will be modified by this new partnership removing the storage requirements which damage vaccines in tropical countries.

Low-cost Indian generic producers will be roped in to market their products. It will also raise funds for itself by commercializing successful products.

Wellcome and Merck, the US pharmaceutical company, will be sharing equal rights of decision making. It could increase Merck's troubles which is already under pessure to lower the price and make is existing vaccines accessible.