Envisioning a Vibrant Vaccine Industry: Damian A. Braga

“A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”

— John Maxwell

FOR NEARLY A quarter of a century, Damian A. Braga has been a respected and influential leader within the vaccine industry. As he looks back over his career with sanofi pasteur, Braga is mindful of the fact that his rise to the top was a less-than-traditional one. After college, Braga devoted several years to a volunteer organization focused on eradicating poverty, and later joined his father in the music business. During that time, Braga decided to go to graduate school and earn his MBA in finance, a move that opened the door for him to accept a financial analyst position with a small company called Connaught Laboratories. That company would later become the global vaccine industry leader, sanofi pasteur.

Leadership that Capitalizes on Individual Strengths

“I held a number of different positions within the organization, which eventually led me to work closely with then-president and chief operating officer Dave Williams,” recalls Braga. “Dave became a mentor and personal friend.” It was Williams who helped influence so many of Braga’s future business decisions, as well as his leadership style.

Braga joined the company in 1988, and his goal-oriented mindset, natural leadership abilities and approachable management style enabled him to move quickly through a range of senior-level positions, ultimately reaching the top of the Americas organization in late 2007.

Today, Braga serves as the president of sanofi pasteur U.S., and vice president, sanofi pasteur Americas, with 16 direct reports, many who have been with him for close to 10 years. He attributes part of the low turnover at sanofi pasteur to the company culture, which he believes ignites a passion for public health and innovation — values many employees personally share. As a leader, Braga stresses a personalized management approach that capitalizes on individual strengths. “Initially, I like to work closely with people so that I can get to know them, see how they make decisions, and how they handle challenges. Once I trust their judgment, I’m hands off. It’s important to manage people individually to get their best contributions.”

By combining a commitment to organizational growth with a strong sense of civic responsibility, Braga brings a unique leadership style to one of the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers. Responsible for commercial operations in the U.S., Canada and LatinAmerica business units, Braga oversees more than $3 billion (USD)in annual revenue and has served a vital role in the organization’s global strategic planning and growth.

Braga notes that the vaccine industry has historically been volatile and unpredictable, influenced by everything from the rising tide of consumer concern over vaccine safety, to the unpredictability of biologic production. “There always seems to be ample opportunity for crises management,” he says. “I learned very early that to succeed in this business, you have to demonstrate your ability to manage difficult situations and lead by example.”

When Braga started his career with Cannaught Laboratories, the industry itself was somewhat small and commoditized, with little investment in innovation and development. At the time, the vaccine industry was also under assault and facing numerous lawsuits. “I am proud of the leadership role that sanofi pasteur has taken in creating a vibrant vaccine industry,” Braga says. “We’ve become a driver of innovation and safety and made numerous contributions to new and existing vaccines, further protecting lives.”

Focusing on Future Accomplishments

Among sanofi pasteur’s many accomplishments during Braga’s tenure are the successful launch of a new adolescent and adult booster vaccine to protect against pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria; a new meningococcal vaccine for children and adolescents; a pediatric formulation of influenza vaccine; and a high dose influenza vaccine for those aged 65 and older. “Until recently, the influenza vaccine for adults had pretty much remained unchanged in 40 years,”he says.“Now, there is ample opportunity for improvement as we move to the next generation of vaccines targeting specific population groups.”

The FDA approved sanofi pasteur’s Fluzone High Dose for seniors last year, and the formula has made a significant contribution to the influenza vaccine marketplace, especially since people aged 65 and older are at high risk for influenza-related complications and fatalities. Sanofi pasteur has been working on other innovations in the influenza vaccine marketplace as well: On May 10, the FDA approved the company’s supplemental biologics license application for licensure of Fluzone Intradermal (influenza virus vaccine). This intradermal delivery system for influenza vaccine uses a novel microinjection system, featuring an ultrafine needle that is 90 percent shorter than the typical needle used for intramuscular injection of influenza vaccine.

Looking ahead, Braga says the focus is now on adult vaccination schedules, with the goal being to promote the importance of vaccines to a generation that has forgotten what a significant contribution immunization has made to public health. Last year, Braga made the bold decision to embark on a public service partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in an effort to raise vaccine awareness and directly confront the anti-vaccine messaging that had become so prevalent. “It brought us to the forefront of the debate, and I’m proud that we stepped up to the plate and took a position,” he says. “I especially wanted to work with a group like AAP that has credibility with physicians. If we can give physicians the tools and information they need when they speak with parents, we can make a difference.”

In recent years, the vaccine industry has not only been challenged by ongoing debates about vaccine safety, but also by unforeseen threats like the H1N1 pandemic. While the events surrounding the pandemic seem like a distant memory to some, Braga says for those who were on the frontlines during the outbreak, it’s time to give credit where credit is due: “I am extremely proud of efforts that were made, especially within our organization. Our people worked around the clock to deliver a vaccine in a very short period of time. The handling of the H1N1 pandemic was a tremendous success, and I think it is important to remind everyone of the things that went right.”

Other research and development projects within the organization include addressing strain-specific influenza concerns; promoting adult pertussis vaccination; and maintaining a leadership position in emerging markets like Latin America, where the company already has a strong presence. Currently, sanofi pasteur is developing a vaccine for Dengue fever, a mosquitoborne illness that infects as many as 100 million people each year, most in Latin America. Recently, Dengue has erupted in parts of Florida and Texas. Dengue is characterized by fever, headache and rash, and in some instances can lead to life-threatening complications such as severe internal bleeding and even death.

A Vision for Making a Difference

“Our vision is for a world in which no one suffers or dies from a vaccinepreventable disease, and it’s a lofty one,” says Braga. “We are dedicated to using all of the resources at our disposal to continue making significant contributions to public health and, ultimately, making a difference in people’s lives.”