© GlaxoSmithKline

• R&D, health system capacity-strengthening efforts, and medicine donations comprise pharmaceutical industry's holistic approach to addressing neglected diseases
• As part of the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to improve global health, IFPMA members pledged¹ to donate an average of 14 billion treatments this decade (2011-2020) to fight neglected diseases
• IFPMA members are conducting 132 R&D projects to find new or improved vaccines and treatments for neglected diseases
• The pharmaceutical industry is the third largest funder of R&D for neglected diseases and the only major sector increasing funding for neglected disease R&D in 2011

Background

One person in seven suffers from neglected diseases. Each year neglected diseases disproportionately disable or kill millions of poor people primarily in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

Neglected diseases are a group of debilitating conditions often linked to poverty. They can cause blindness, chronic pain, severe disability, disfigurement or even death. Affecting both children and adults, these diseases can impair childhood development, lead to stigmatization, and hinder economic productivity by limiting the ability of infected individuals to work. Their impact on individuals and communities is devastating. As long as neglected diseases continue to be endemic in poor countries, they will contribute to a vicious cycle of poverty in these regions. 

Stopping neglected diseases is achievable. Success relies on multi-stakeholder approaches, which not only drive further R&D but also integrate environmental improvements, boosting capacity-strengthening efforts, effective health policies, better screening and availability of quality, safe and effective medicines.

Cutting-edge R&D for unmet health needs

IFPMA member companies currently conduct 132 R&D projects². Of the 132 R&D projects listed in this status report, 112 (85%) are product development partnerships (PDPs) involving IFPMA member companies, the remaining 20 (15%) projects are company-only undertakings. In 2012, the number of medicine and vaccine R&D projects has increased by over 40%, (from 93) since 2011.

Data from the fifth annual G-FINDER report “Neglected disease R&D: A five-year review” shows total R&D funding for neglected diseases as USD 3.05 billion in 2011. The public sector provides nearly two-thirds (USD 1.9 billion, 64%) of global funding for R&D followed by the philanthropic sector contributions (USD 570.6 million, 18.7%) and the pharmaceutical industry (USD 525.1 million, 17.2%). In 2011, the largest sectoral increase came from the pharmaceutical industry which rose by USD 20 million (+4.2%). In terms of five-year trends, both public and philanthropic sector funding have dropped since the global financial crisis, although both still reached higher levels in 2011 than in 2007. Meanwhile, multinational pharmaceutical company investment increased dramatically since 2008 with a USD 193.6 million increase.

A holistic approach to fight neglected diseases

Taking a holistic approach involving partnerships is key to tackling neglected diseases and reducing the burden on people. In addition to R&D, IFPMA members partner with WHO and other partners to implement prevention/awareness/outreach programs, improvements in health system infrastructures, and training.

These efforts are complemented by medicine donation programs. As part of the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to improve global health, IFPMA members pledged³ to donate 14 billion treatments during this decade (2011 to 2020). These treatments will help eliminate or control the nine neglected diseases responsible for more than 90% of the global neglected diseases burden.

(1) IFPMA (January 2011), Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases, IFPMA member companies support eliminating and controlling neglected tropical diseases over the next decade through landmark donations.

(2)  A project is a compound in development for a specific disease target, or a program to screen compounds against a specific disease. Data are from responses to IFPMA queries and open sources.

(3)IFPMA (January 2011), Ending Neglected Tropical Diseases, IFPMA member companies support eliminating and controlling neglected tropical diseases over the next decade through landmark donations.