GHTC submits FY25 appropriations testimony to US appropriators

This year’s World Health Assembly represents a pivotal moment for global leaders to put in place policies that will bolster our preparedness against emerging threats and reinvigorate the battle against longstanding health challenges. As member states consider agenda items before this year’s assembly, the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) urges policymakers to prioritize the following actions to accelerate global health innovation:Adopt a resolution on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with bold new commitments to spur the development of new tools and improve global surveillance capacity. This should include a pledge by member states to increase investments and incentives for research and development (R&D) of new antimicrobials and other tools—ensuring these innovations are designed to reach underserved populations and those in low-resource settings—as well as to support the creation of a new global AMR laboratory network to strengthen diagnostic capacity. In advance of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR this September, it is also imperative that United Nations agencies hold an open, inclusive consultative process to define global AMR priorities.Pass the proposed resolution on maternal and child health, setting into action its call for increased R&D to address the often-neglected health needs of women and children. Member states should support the ongoing work of the World Health Organization (WHO)-led Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations Network, which coordinates stakeholders to address treatment gaps for children and seeks to align their national HIV/AIDS R&D investments with priority needs identified in WHO’s Paediatric Antiretroviral Drug Optimization list. To address treatment and prevention gaps for pregnant and lactating individuals, countries must also prioritize the inclusion of pregnant and lactating people in research and clinical trials.Substantially increase investments in R&D to meet the goals set forth in the WHO strategies on tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases. To achieve the Global Strategy for Tuberculosis Research and Innovation, member states should increase domestic investments in tuberculosis R&D in line with fair share targets and supercharge research efforts to develop novel vaccines, point-of-care diagnostics, and improved therapies—ensuring tools are fit for purpose for underserved populations. To support the neglected tropical diseases roadmap, WHO and member states should position impacted countries to lead in R&D priority-setting, promote South-South collaboration models, and consider the growing impact of climate change on disease burdens. Additionally, to accelerate access to new health products, countries must also support WHO’s divisions on Science and Access to Medicines and Health Products in advancing approaches to better align WHO’s prequalification procedure and national and regional regulatory approval processes.Advance a pandemic agreement and proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations over the finish line. Too many lives have been lost and too much is at risk to let these critical processes fail. On the accord, member states must soften entrenched positions and work with earnestness to forge a consensus path forward that spurs inclusive R&D while ensuring all countries benefit from the fruits of science and innovation. Any agreement should include clear enforcement and accountability provisions and pathways to finance and strengthen research capacity in low- and middle-income countries.It is GHTC’s hope that countries will meet the moment on this historic opportunity to supercharge R&D efforts to combat future pandemics and other ongoing global health challenges.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on agenda items that will be tackled during this year’s World Health Assembly. GHTC urges US policymakers to prioritize the following actions to strengthen research and development (R&D) to address these urgent health challenges: On antimicrobial resistance (AMR), it is vital to bolster investments and incentives for R&D for new antimicrobials and other tools to fight AMR and to improve global surveillance and laboratory capacity. Innovations should be developed with the goal of promoting broad accessibility, including for vulnerable populations and those in low-resource settings. The United States should work with member states to support the resolution tabled under this agenda item and call for the creation of a global AMR laboratory network to strengthen diagnostic capacity. In advance of this year’s United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR, we also urge the United States to push the relevant United Nations agencies to hold an open, inclusive consultative process to define global AMR priorities. On maternal and child health, we welcome the draft resolution and its proposed language calling for increased R&D of health tools to address the specific medical needs of women and children, which are often neglected. We urge the United States to support the ongoing work of the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations Network, or GAP-f, including prioritizing R&D for priority products on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Paediatric Antiretroviral Drug Optimization list. For pregnant women, we need to speed up and scale up access to preventive tools and treatments and include pregnant and lactating women in research and clinical trials to improve data quality and availability of therapeutic options. On tuberculosis (TB) and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), we urge the United States to work with member states to substantially increase investments in R&D. To meet the goals of the Global Strategy for Tuberculosis Research and Innovation, member states must increase domestic investments in TB R&D in line with fair share targets and supercharge research efforts to develop novel vaccines, point-of-care diagnostics, and improved therapies while also ensuring tools are appropriate for all populations, including pregnant people and children. In implementing research efforts to support the NTD roadmap, member states and WHO should position impacted countries to lead in R&D priority-setting, promote South-South collaboration models, and consider the growing impact of climate change. For both TB and NTD innovations, the United States should work with WHO’s divisions on Science and Access to Medicines and Health Products, as well as member states to consider ways to better align the prequalification and regulatory approval processes to accelerate access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.