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Did you know that Americans spend more money on ice cream in three weeks than the US Government spends on global health research and development (R&D) in a year? And despite this relatively modest investment in the creation of new global health tools, the United States is the worldwide leader in R&D for neglected diseases. When we at the GHTC tell US policymakers the story of how global health R&D has revolutionized people’s lives around the world, we highlight the prominent role that the US Government plays in funding and supporting the development of new global health tools. We’ve always believed that US leads the world in investment in global health R&D, and that this comparatively small investment has paid off many times over in lives and dollars saved. We’ve seen the effectiveness of US-funded technologies like the polio vaccine, oral rehydration solution, and HIV and AIDS drugs. We’ve known that tools in the pipeline would have similar game-changing effects. And now we have the evidence to prove it. A new report, released today by the GHTC and Policy Cures, provides important confirmation that the US is the largest global health R&D funder in the world, investing $12.7 billion over the last decade. A new report, released today by the GHTC and Policy Cures, provides important confirmation that the US is the largest global health R&D funder in the world, investing $12.7 billion over the last decade. In fact, the US government in the last decade more than doubled its annual commitment to developing new global health products, from $685 million in 2000 to $1.4 billion in 2010. These investments represent just 0.01 percent of US gross domestic product. Our report confirms the strong leadership role the US has played in the global health R&D landscape, and also includes new information on spending and support by key US federal agencies—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, US Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, and US Agency for International Development. New information also details the public health impact of products already on the market, and new health and economic projections detail the possible impact for health tools still in development. There is an exciting pipeline of 365 new vaccines, drugs, diagnostic, and other products for global health, and the US Government is supporting 200 of them. These are just a few examples of the immense impact of global health R&D, and the incredible benefits it will continue to have if robust support continues. The US is not alone in this effort—many governments around the globe, philanthropic foundations, and private industry partners provide large amounts of funding, technical expertise, and key intellectual property to develop new global health tools. The global health R&D landscape would not be the same without these important allies. While the success of US investment in global health R&D is exceptional, the report makes clear that sustained and increased US support is essential to ensuring that the potential of global health research is not lost. The report provides recommendations for how the US Government can maximize its investments in new global health products. The recommendations are: The US Government should maintain its funding for global health R&D, and increase this funding where possible. The US Government needs to have a greater focus on the later stages of research and product development to fully leverage its global health R&D investments. The US Government should increase funding to partnering mechanisms that are focused on translation of global health research. With all of the amazing results of global health R&D we have seen—and with this new evidence that global health R&D is a worthwhile, cost-effective investment—it would be a shame to retreat now. With the US leadership role comes the responsibility to continue pushing the boundaries of science and leading the world in combating global health diseases.

Michel Zaffran is the coordinator for the Expanded Programme on Immunization at the World Health Organization (WHO). He is also the director of Project Optimize at PATH. In this guest post, Zaffran writes about how the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is seeking new ideas for immunization systems and vaccine product characteristics. As one of the most cost-effective health interventions, new lifesaving vaccines bring great promise to communities around the world. However, these new vaccines often present challenges to the immunization supply systems of low- and middle-income countries. Some new vaccines can occupy more space, may be more complex to prepare for administration, and may have temperature requirements that are not suited to the challenging environment of low- and middle-income countries. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges Explorations grants program has launched a new call seeking ideas to improve immunization supply systems, including vaccine product characteristics that could have implications for research and development. For example: Tools to enable countries, donors, and procurement agencies to assess the systems costs and benefits of vaccine product presentations and formulations, rather than product price alone, in order to inform their vaccine purchase decisions and optimize their relevance to immunization strategies. Low-cost vial-level temperature indicators that display both cumulative and peak exposures to heat. Non-formulation means to prevent vaccines from freezing and/or to guarantee the sterility of opened multi-dose vials during storage and use. Any other innovation relevant to vaccine characteristics that do not necessarily involve preclinical or clinical research or improving vaccine stability or formulation. Anyone with a good idea is eligible to submit a two-page proposal, including public health specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, engineers, or students working in nongovernmental organizations, ministries of health, universities, or companies. The program offers $100,000 grants, and successful projects may be eligible for additional funding up to $1 million. The submission deadline is May 15, 2012. This call for proposals builds on work facilitated by Project Optimize—a collaboration between PATH and the WHO—to develop a common vision for the future of immunization supply systems and logistics. More information Grand Challenges Explorations call for proposals Grand Challenges Explorations program Project Optimize on the PATH and WHO websites.

In this guest post, Mandy Goldberg from Research!America writes about an event today in Washington, DC, that focuses on research and development (R&D) for new malaria tools. The event is sponsored by Research!America, the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC), and several other partners. In the United States, the bite of a mosquito is uncomfortable and irritating. For 3.3 billion people abroad, a mosquito bite can be deadly. Almost half of the global population is at risk of contracting malaria from the bite of an infected mosquito. Although malaria is preventable and curable, an estimated 655,000 people, mostly children in Africa, died from the disease in 2010. On April 25, the global health community commemorates the fifth annual World Malaria Day by recognizing the progress that has been made in the fight against malaria and calling for increased investment to sustain this momentum and achieve malaria control worldwide. The current basis of malaria control efforts are mosquito control strategies and treatment. Studies have shown that bednets can reduce malaria transmission by 90 percent in areas with high coverage rates. In addition, indoor residual spraying with insecticides can also reduce malaria transmission in areas with at least 80 percent coverage. In the past decade, malaria deaths have decreased by one-third in Africa. In countries with improved access to malaria control interventions, child mortality rates have fallen by 20 percent. More research is needed, however, to develop new, longer-lasting tools to bring eradication within reach. Photo credit: PATH/Evelyn Hockstein The tide is turning against malaria, thanks in part to remarkable achievements in R&D. In the past decade, malaria deaths have decreased by one-third in Africa. In countries with improved access to malaria control interventions, child mortality rates have fallen by 20 percent. More research is needed, however, to develop new, longer-lasting tools to bring eradication within reach. Hope on the way: the malaria product pipeline Anti-malarial medicines are used for curative and preventive purposes, but the increasing threat of drug resistance is making R&D for new, more effective drugs even more essential. Widespread resistance to the drug chloroquine in the 1970s and 1980s necessitated the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), currently the best available treatment. The plant from which artemisinin is derived is in short supply in nature, threatening future availability of ACT. OneWorld Health, a drug development affiliate of PATH, in collaboration with private-sector partners, is working to solve this problem through the development and production of semi-synthetic artemisinin at an affordable price that can sustain the supply of ACT for years to come. In addition, the product development partnership Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has several promising drug candidates in its R&D pipeline. MMV is developing a one-dose cure to replace current three-day regimens, eliminating the need for treatment follow-up and reducing the likelihood of drug resistance. MMV is also working on the development of non-artemisinin-based treatments. Considering recent reports of increasing resistance to ACTs in Southeast Asia, increased investment is needed to support the development of new therapies that may be necessary to control malaria in the future. The greatest hope for malaria eradication is the development of a safe, effective vaccine to prevent infection. RTS,S, the most advanced malaria vaccine candidate, has been shown to reduce the risk of infection by 50 percent among children age 5-17 months in a recent late-stage clinical trial. Developed through collaboration between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, GlaxoSmithKline, and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, this vaccine could be recommended for widespread use by the World Health Organization as early as 2015. Research has played an essential role in the progress already made against malaria, and additional scientific breakthroughs may be around the corner due to the robust R&D pipeline. Malaria R&D has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives, including American troops stationed abroad, and also has important economic benefits here at home by creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. In order to fully realize these health and economic benefits, increased investment in malaria R&D is required.