One step forward, one step sideways: Expanding research capacity for neglected diseases

There is general agreement, including from the pharmaceutical industry, that current methods of generating research into the development of pharmaceutical products that are relevant for developing countries do not work. This conclusion is relevant not just for the most neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis but even for global diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Stimulating research will mean overcoming barriers such as patent thickets, poor coordination of research activities, exclusive licensing of new technologies by universities and the structural problems that inhibit conducting appropriate clinical trials in developing countries. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the priorities for research reflect the needs of developing countries and not just donors. This talk will briefly explore each of these issues and then look at three emerging approaches to stimulating research – public-private partnerships, paying for innovation and priority review sales or vouchers – and their strengths and weaknesses. Especially problematic is how to ensure adequate funding for any of these new proposals.