A report from GHTC and Policy Cures Research examines how US federal funding for global health R&D is delivering impact both abroad and at home.

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GHTC issues statement on global vaccine action plan at WHO Executive Board Meeting

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PATH/Matthew Dakin
February 5, 2020

The following statement—from Global Health Council, supported by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Global Health Technologies Coalition—was delivered at the 146th session of the WHO Executive Board Meeting on agenda item 8: Medicines, vaccines and health products.

Global Health Council supported by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Global Health Technologies Coalition commend WHO and member states on progress made towards achieving immunization goals. Despite these efforts, coverage of essential vaccines increased from 84% in 2010 to 86% in 2018, leaving nearly 20 million children unvaccinated every year. Polio has not been eradicated, and resurgence of measles threatens to undo decades of progress. Any post-2020 vaccination strategy must prioritize reaching those left behind and access to essential vaccines in conflict settings, among displaced persons and during outbreaks of emerging infections like Ebola. Improved immunization programs will help counter AMR and ensure existing medicines remain effective for longer. Vaccines are an essential prevention tool, and states must invest in R&D for new vaccine technologies and increased capacity for uptake of innovations within national immunization programs.  

While we support recommendations for a post-2020 strategy placing countries at the center of strategy development, we urge prioritizing overarching global-level targets for vaccines like MMR, DTaP and IPV while allowing for disease surveillance systems at country or regional levels to inform other recommendations.

We urge WHO and member states to improve efforts to address vaccine hesitancy, recognized by WHO as a threat to global health. Vaccine action plans should prioritize research to develop better tools for providers and public health programs to effectively communicate with vaccine-hesitant families and communities. We are encouraged to see the report noting the important role non-state actors can play in strengthening vaccine strategies. As infectious disease and global health professionals, we stand ready to work with WHO on developing new vaccine strategies, the vaccine R&D pipeline, and innovative solutions to ensure uptake of these critical health interventions.

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PATH/Matthew Dakin
February 5, 2020

GHTC issues statement on ending tuberculosis at WHO Executive Board Meeting

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The following statement—from Global Health Council, supported by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Global Health Technologies Coalition—was delivered at the 146th session of the WHO Executive Board Meeting on agenda item 10: Ending tuberculosis. Global Health Council supported by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Global Health Technologies Coalition commends WHO and member states on accelerating efforts to meet TB elimination goals. Despite progress we are not on track to end the TB epidemic by 2030. If progress continues at the current rate, 28 million people will die by 2030 at a global economic cost of $983 billion. New investments by member states in TB R&D coupled with efficient technology assessment and evaluation of new TB products by WHO will be vital to building the arsenal of tools required to control TB.An estimated 3 million people with active TB infection continue to go undiagnosed and untreated. Countries are too often relying on old technologies, highlighting the need for investments in new drugs, vaccines and rapid molecular and point of care diagnostics, preventive therapies, and shorter, better quality treatments to ensure adherence and mitigate debilitating side effects. Growing resistance is making TB more deadly and difficult to treat. A new vaccine would be a gamechanger and is critical for addressing growing AMR by reducing the need for antibiotics. As TB is the most prevalent drug resistant infection, strengthening efforts against drug resistant TB is critical for curbing the AMR crisis.
PATH/Georgina Goodwin
December 19, 2019

Federal Spending Package Includes Bill to Boost Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases

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The passage of the End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act—included in a federal spending package passed by both chambers of Congress this week—will strengthen US efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We applaud Congress for recognizing that putting an end to these devastating diseases, which impact the world’s poorest people, will require the discovery of new drugs, vaccines, and other health technologies to prevent and treat these threats.One in seven people worldwide is affected by at least one NTD, including vulnerable people here in the United States. Yet of the 17 priority NTDs identified by the legislation, only five are considered “tool-ready” by health authorities—meaning we have low-cost, effective interventions to control them. Likewise, no preventive vaccines exist for 16 of the 17 diseases—underscoring the urgent need for new innovations and deepening the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) nascent support for NTD research and development (R&D). The legislation directs USAID, through its NTD Program, to continue investments in R&D of new tools and approaches to control and eliminate NTDs, as well as to ensure that research breakthroughs are incorporated into existing programming to reach individuals in need. Given the program’s tremendous global footprint in supporting mass drug administration to prevent and treat many NTDs, USAID has a unique and vital charge to support the development and deployment of new and improved tools.We look forward to working with the supporters of this legislation to ensure the bill’s vision for NTD R&D is realized and adequately funded in the years ahead so we can end these horrible scourges.  # # #Background:The End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act addresses 17 diseases that collectively afflict more than 1 billion people, who often live in the most impoverished communities in tropical and subtropical countries. The 17 NTDs include:Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection)Chagas diseasedengue or severe dengue feverdracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)echinococcosisfoodborne trematodiaseshuman African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)leishmaniasisleprosylymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)onchocerciasis (river blindness)scabiesschistosomiasissoil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) (roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm)taeniasis/cysticercosistrachomayaws (endemic treponematoses)CONTACT: Katy Lenard, klenard@burness.com, +1 301-280-5719