Infectious diseases
The innovative pharmaceutical industry is a long-standing driver of collective action against infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.
Overview
There are currently 2,272 medicines in development for infectious diseases.
Alongside this, our industry has been actively engaged in controlling and eliminating NTDs for decades by sustaining access and capacity building initiatives and developing new, innovative approaches to treatment and care.
This includes helping countries build stronger health systems through accessible NTD country programs staffed by qualified healthcare personnel. These programs offer access to quality and affordable medicines, vaccines, and treatments to all.
IFPMA member companies are currently part of 110 collaborations in 145 countries with 566 multi-sector partners.
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria
From long-acting injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to malaria vaccines and medicines for newborns and young infants, to TB diagnostics, recent scientific breakthroughs are changing the trajectory of these infectious diseases.
Companies innovate with new treatment formulations, including those better tailored for paediatric use, as well as solutions to improve administering drugs, such as shorter treatment courses.
Beyond medicines, our members support forward-looking initiatives that improve screening, timely diagnosis, and access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.
Facts and figures
Tuberculosis
- A total of 1.25 million people died from TB in 2023, including 161,000 people with HIV
- TB is the leading cause of death from a single infectious disease. It is the leading cause of death for people with HIV and contributes to many deaths related to antimicrobial resistance
- USD 22 billion is needed annually to achieve the 2027 target agreed at the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB
Malaria
- Globally, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths in 2023 in 83 malaria endemic countries
- The WHO African Region is disproportionately affected, with 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths. More than three-quarters of malaria deaths in the region occur in children under 5
We are dedicated to awareness raising and education to halt transmission and reduce stigma.
Looking to the future, companies are committed to continue leveraging their unique expertise in combating these infectious diseases that pose a massive threat to health systems, especially in LMICs.
This involves using lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic and collaborating to strengthen health structures for resilient systems, including pandemic preparedness plans.
Pandemic preparedness
The innovative pharmaceutical industry has played and will continue to play a critical role in pandemic preparedness response. IFPMA has a strong track record as a partner contributing knowhow and exploring solutions.
Antimicrobial resistance
Drug resistance to HIV, TB, and malaria products remains a major challenge. It’s another major focus of our industry’s pipeline within wider efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Read how overcoming drug resistance to HIV, TB, and malaria medicine is part of industry efforts against AMR.
Fighting for what counts: Leveraging the power of collaboration to end HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria
Leveraging the power of collaboration to end HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Read moreNeglected tropical diseases
In 2012, global health leaders, development organizations, and the innovative pharmaceutical industry endorsed the London Declaration, a collective commitment to control, eliminate, and eradicate 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Ten years later, in 2022, the same global health stakeholders reconvened to sign the Kigali Declaration, reiterating their commitments, and adopting a more cross sectoral approach to mobilize joint action on NTDs and address the growing burden worldwide.
Looking ahead
As part of the work to build strong health systems and economies, governments must include NTD strategies into their domestic health plans.
IFPMA and the innovative pharmaceutical industry recognizes the need to develop new, innovative approaches to the treatment of NTDs and patient care, while working together to sustain current access and capacity building initiatives.
So, despite low commercial incentives, the industry engages in R&D partnership models to discover effective new treatments and interventions for NTDs.
people, approximately one-sixth of the world's population, suffer from at least one NTD
treatments for NTDs were donated by the pharmaceutical industry between 2012-2024
people received treatment for an NTD in 2023
The industry’s NTD research efforts are carried out in partnership with over 80 organizations, including renowned universities, NGOs, and public and private sector institutions.
Leveraging the power of collaboration
Since 2019, and for the first time in the Global Fund’s 20-year history, progress was lost in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to move forward.
Our publication, Fighting for what counts: Leveraging the power of collaboration to end HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, shows how multisectoral collaborations and industry initiatives can positively transform health outcomes.
Other health systems topics
See all
Vaccines
The innovative pharmaceutical industry supports the discovery of new vaccines and their access to prevent and control diseases, improve the health of people everywhere, and make the world a safer place.
Universal Health Coverage
IFPMA works in partnership with other members of the global health community to achieve Universal Health Coverage targets and contribute to a world where no one is left behind in receiving the healthcare they need.
Digital health
Digital health technologies impact every aspect of the value chain, from drug discovery and clinical development to product launch and support for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.