Time for government action on investing in neglected diseases R&D

A five-year review of global neglected disease R&D funding shows that, despite increased investment of almost half a billion dollars ($443.7 million) between 2007 and 2011, changing investment patterns - especially from hard-pressed governments - may mean this funding is not always working in favor of development of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for the world’s poor.

New data from the fifth annual G-FINDER report, titled Neglected disease R&D: A five-year review, shows that while the public sector provides nearly $2 billion each year, or two-thirds of all R&D funding for neglected diseases, government funding has continued to move away from product development and towards traditional basic research - even as product development funding from industry and philanthropy is also either dropping or becoming focussed in only a few diseases and products.

Investment model shifting back to the “bad old days”