This document compares global investment in different areas of health research and development. It finds that while cancer receives $15 billion annually, rare cancers receive around $3 billion and neglected diseases receive only $3.2 billion despite addressing major health issues. It outlines approaches that have helped increase the pipeline of treatments for neglected diseases, such as public and philanthropic funding, product development partnerships, and incentive programs. However, it notes the pipeline remains concentrated on only a few diseases and that an access gap remains for developing treatments for the most neglected health issues.

1. Sick or Treat: eCancer
Lessons from the world of neglected disease R&D
Dr Nick Chapman
Director of Research, Policy Cures
Sydney, 28 October 2015

2. Comparing global investment in
R&D
All health R&D
$270bn
Cancer
$15bn
Rare cancers
$3.0bn?
Neglected diseases
$3.2bn

3. Two ends of the spectrum
Revenue = Price x Volume

4. Solutions for neglected disease
R&D
• Public and philanthropic funding
• Product Development Partnerships
• Other innovative mechanisms

5. Public and philanthropic
funding
Two thirds from top 3 funders:
- US NIH (39%)
- Gates Foundation (16%)
- Pharma industry (12%)

6. Product Development
Partnerships (PDPs)

7. Product Development
Partnerships (PDPs)
PDPs are involved in 40%of all pipeline candidates
… despite managing only 15% of total funding for
neglected disease R&D in 2013
Target Product Profiles – focus on patient needs from
the outset (incl. max acceptable price)

8. Other incentives
• Priority Review Vouchers
• Global Health Innovative Technologies fund
• Global Health Investment Fund

9. These approaches have helped
grow the ND R&D pipeline…
The R&D pipeline for neglected diseases is healthier now than
it has ever been
485
product candidates
in the pipeline
2004 2012 2015
215?
365
485

10. … but less for the ‘most
neglected’ – just as for rarest
Highly concentrated on just three diseases (malaria, TB, and
HIV/AIDS)
Malaria Tuberculosis HIV/AIDS
Kinetoplastids
Diarrhoeal
diseases
Helminth
infections
Hepatitis C
All other diseases
combined
67%

11. Access gap
?