Introduction

The research-based pharmaceutical industry implements a wide and growing range of access and capacity building programs to help improve health in developing countries. It is also the third largest funder of R&D for diseases of the developing world. These programs are documented in this directory, which exists as an electronic book and as a searchable online database at www.ifpma.org/healthpartnerships.

Many industry programs are focused on one or more of the health-related UN Millennium Development Goals: MDG 4) reduce child mortality, MDG 5) improve maternal health, MDG 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and MDG 8E) provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries. However, there are also industry programs helping to address other developing world health issues, such as the growing burden of chronic diseases, or strengthening primary care.

 In the 2010 edition, we document a total of 213 programs, up from 202 last year. In fact, the total number of industry programs has continued to grow year on year since we started recording them in 2003. In that year, we listed 36 programs, in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and tropical diseases. Today, the number of programs for those 4 disease areas alone has grown to 119, but we have had to expand the directory to capture the growing number of programs to address other health needs, including preventable diseases, child and maternal health, chronic diseases and additional health initiatives. The latter do not address a single disease or disease area, but rather aim at strengthening overall health care.

Japanese companies have contributed to this growth. Eisai has notified two new R&D partnerships for malaria and one for Chagas disease, while Takeda started a capacity building program with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

 Also contributing to the increased tropical disease R&D effort was Merck & Co., Inc. through a new master agreement with DNDi covering Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and other diseases. GlaxoSmithKline also played a part, through its new Proprietary Knowledge Pool and Tres Cantos Open Lab initiatives.

 Listed in the Directory for the first time this year is a Quality Control program run by the IFPMA’s member association in France, LEEM, which offers expert analytical resources to help poorly resourced African countries to fight counterfeit and substandard medicines.
 The contribution of the research-based pharmaceutical industry to R&D for diseases of the developing (DDW) world is substantial.

The end of 2009 saw the publication of the second G-FINDER report on funding for DDW R&D, covering the year 2008. Once again, our industry was the third largest source of funding for R&D for these diseases, after the US Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Complementary IFPMA data shows that the number of DDW medicine R&D projects undertaken by our companies continues to increase, from 32 in 2005 to 75 in 2009.

 Our industry’s strong and sustained commitment to help improve health in developing countries is underlined by the further increase in the number of industry programs in 2009. In particular, our industry is playing an important and growing role in the development of new medicines and vaccines for diseases of the developing world, including ones focused primarily on addressing children’s health problems. Our companies are willing to enter into new partnerships to help improve global health and the IFPMA is pleased to help bring together potential partners in this area.

 Eduardo Pisani
 Director General
 IFPMA