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The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) recently released its first annual policy report, which provides recommendations for Congress and the Administration on how to position the United States as the leader in a worldwide movement to strengthen global health research and development (R&D). The report—titled Innovation in action: policies to accelerate the development and delivery of global health tools—focuses on how the United States can bolster coordination with domestic and international stakeholders to ensure that global health tools like vaccines, diagnostics, drugs, microbicides, and other products reach populations in need around the world. It makes recommendations in three areas: Public financing and coordination across the US agencies involved in global health research. Regulatory pathways to ensure that safe health products reach populations in need. Incentives to spur public sector involvement in global health research and innovative financing mechanisms to identify new ways of raising and allocating funds. The United States has long been at the forefront of efforts to develop tools to address global health diseases. US investment and innovation have contributed to remarkable progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases. Despite these breakthroughs, existing technologies are not sufficient to address drug resistance or new infectious conditions, while only outdated or insufficient technologies exist for some of the most intractable diseases worldwide. For this reason, accelerating the development and delivery of global health tools is critical to reaching broader US global health goals. The United States is poised to address these issues head on. With the release of the US Global Health Initiative (GHI), US policymakers have the opportunity to ensure that a commitment to research and innovation to develop new products and tools is a central part of the nation's efforts to improve health worldwide. The GHTC's report examines the financing and regulatory issues that affect global health R&D, highlighting why innovation and product development are critical to the overall US global health strategy. By pursuing the policy actions outlined in the GHTC’s report, Congress and the Administration have the opportunity to boost the critical research and innovation needed to address global health diseases and to ensure that the most effective tools are available both today and tomorrow. Global health experts call for US leadership during GHTC event The report was released at the GHTC's first annual Congressional briefing, which highlighted how the United States has long been a leader in R&D for global health diseases. Keynote speaker Dr. Nils Daulaire, director of the Office of Global Health Affairs at the US Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted the critical role that R&D plays in reaching the overall US global health goals. Dr. Maria Freire, president of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and the second keynote speaker, called for the United States to lead a worldwide movement to elevate global health R&D. “We must deepen our funding of research for health and ensure that it remains not only a national priority, but a global imperative. Millions of lives, our own and those of our neighbors, depend on it." Dr. Freire said at the briefing. She added, "As the leader in biomedical research, our country can spearhead a global movement for increased and sustainable funding for research that will transform the world." Panelists at the event included Dr. Christy Hanson, chief of the Infectious Disease Division at the US Agency for International Development's Bureau for Global Health, and Sylvie Kwedi, president and founder of CLEAR, Inc. (Capacity for Leadership Excellence and Research).  View individual speeches at the links listed below: GHTC expo introduction Dr. Nils Daulaire at the GHTC expo (part 1) Dr. Nils Daulaire at the GHTC expo (part 2) Dr. Maria Freire at the GHTC expo Dr. Christy Hanson at the GHTC expo Sylvie Kwedi at the GHTC expo

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer today announced that they have joined the first Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a unique funding effort to bring pneumococcal vaccines to millions of children worldwide. The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) commends increased involvement in the AMC and calls on the United States to participate in innovative health financing mechanisms, including a future AMC, to maximize the life-saving potential of immunizations worldwide. The first AMC was launched by the GAVI Alliance, the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and five national governments in June 2009. The introduction of a pneumococcal vaccine through the AMC is projected to prevent an estimated 900,000 deaths by 2015 and more than seven million deaths by 2030. In addition, the long-term price of a vaccine will be lowered from more than US$70 per dose to $3.50 under the AMC. "Today’s landmark announcement promises to make new vaccines available affordably, where they are urgently needed, and faster than ever before. Through this AMC, and thanks to the political will demonstrated by donors and least developed nations and the participation of the pharmaceutical companies, prevention against the world’s biggest childhood killer is now within reach,” said GAVI Alliance CEO Dr. Julian Lob-Levyt. These benefits underscore why the United States should consider engaging with future AMCs. The vaccine research pipeline is more promising than ever, with late-stage trials beginning on vaccines for diseases ranging from meningitis to malaria. It is crucial that this promising pipeline receives support from a wide range of partners to ensure success. US engagement in efforts to stimulate the development and delivery of immunizations is crucial to sustaining and building on this momentum. The Lantos-Hyde Act of 2008 directs the United States to invest in a future AMC, and the GHTC strongly urges policymakers to begin exploring how to engage in future AMC opportunities. "As these new partnerships demonstrate, the pharmaceutical industry and other global health stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the AMC's role in spurring the development and delivery of vaccines for the developing world," said R. Gordon Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Chairman of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. "US support for AMCs would guarantee that recent successes in creating vaccines are sustained and extended going forward, saving the lives of even more children in the developing world." Read the GAVI Alliance press release on the organization's website.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) today released the final report of its Commission on Smart Global Health Policy, providing recommendations for US policymakers on creating a long-term and strategic approach to global health. The bi-partisan commission includes several influential global health experts, including Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE; Admiral William J. Fallon (retired); former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.); Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine); and former UNAIDS Head Dr. Peter Piot. The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) applauds the commission's inclusion of research and innovative financing among its recommendations for strengthening US global health programs, developing new products, and bolstering health systems overseas. The report highlights how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the first time has made global health one of its top priorities, priming the agency to utilize US science and research strengths to benefit global health. As stated in the report, NIH's leadership in particular could be utilized even more to develop new products such as vaccines and drugs. The report also calls on the United States to integrate its vast scientific and research resources with the nation's overall global health strategy to bolster field programs and health systems worldwide. In addition, the report illustrates the vital role of incentives and innovative financing in advancing the development of new global health products such as vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and other devices. Specifically, the commission recommends that the United States re-examine its capability to engage in an Advance Market Commitment (AMC) and the International Financing Facility (IFF). Both mechanisms identify new ways of raising and allocating funds to stimulate and accelerate global health R&D and ensure access to global health tools, and US involvement is key to their success. "The report from the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy highlights how crucial research and innovation for new global health products are to overall US global health efforts," said Dr. Christopher Elias, president and CEO of PATH. PATH is a member of the GHTC, and Dr. Elias served as a member of the Smart Global Health Policy Commission. "It also illustrates how innovative financing mechanisms, such as an AMC and the IFF, play vital roles in spurring the development of new vaccines, drugs, and other tools that save lives worldwide. US policymakers should implement these recommendations to maximize the country's efforts to improve health around the world." The report, A Healthier, Safer and More Prosperous World, is available on the Commission for Smart Global Health Policy website.

President Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal clearly demonstrates that the White House is committed to research and development (R&D) and global health issues by increasing funding for several key US agencies. The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) applauds this commitment to innovation and urges the Obama administration to continue to bolster and integrate its investment in R&D. President Obama's budget proposal would allocate nearly $32 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which lists global health as one of its priorities for FY 2011. In addition, the Department of State, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), would receive approximately $8.5 billion in global health funding under the president's proposal. All three agencies would receive funding increases under the president’s proposal compared with FY 2010. These agencies play crucial roles in global health R&D, and portions of each of their budgets are used for such research. “Developing new tools and encouraging innovation are crucial to ensuring that people in the developing world have access to the drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and other tools they need to survive,” said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, a GHTC member organization . “In the current economic downturn, President Obama’s budgetary increases for these agencies and global health efforts overall show how committed this Administration is to addressing today’s most pressing global health needs and preparing to meet tomorrow’s challenges.” The R&D work carried out by NIH and USAID is key to meeting broader US global health goals. NIH is the leading US government agency for biomedical research support and operations, while USAID catalyzes the development of innovative health products in the developing world and connects potential partners. New tools can help advance overall US global health priorities by improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the diseases that affect vulnerable populations worldwide. Although increasing the budget for key agencies is an important first step, R&D funding still falls short of a target of 3 percent of US gross domestic product, which President Obama set in April 2009 during a speech to the National Academy of Sciences. More can be done by the US government to advance these new tools, and the GHTC strongly urges the Administration to boost the importance of innovation surrounding new health tools and products through the FY 2011 budget. “R&D for new tools and technologies is at a crucial crossroads, as so much progress has been made on new vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and other tools,” said Jana Armstrong, executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative North America, a GHTC member. “Despite this tremendous progress, further scientific advances will be critical to a comprehensive global health response. The United States should boost its commitment to the innovation that will ultimately save lives worldwide.”