Pharmaceutical Research and Development

Pharmaceutical R&D is a highly complex task and requires large organizations and substantial long-term financing, which puts it out of range for most developing countries. However, larger Middle-Income-Countries with a strong industrial and intellectual basis are increasingly building up capacities for R&D in healthcare. In the longer term, it would be desirable if a significant share of global R&D in this field would come from such countries and if the focus of this research would be on diseases that are currently not covered well by the portfolios of major drug companies.

There is an increasing number of partnerships and institutions trying to address the issue of research into neglected diseases. With more promising compounds reaching a stage in which clinical trials are required to demonstrate efficacy and safety, there is an opportunity for leading hospitals in developing countries to become partners in clinical research networks.

For further study

MMV Medicines for Malaria Venture
http://www.mmv.org/pages/page_main.htm

Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
http://www.tballiance.org/

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
http://www.dndi.org/