DNDi Backs WHO ‘Neglected Patients’ R&D Treaty

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) has released a policy brief in support of the proposed convention on research and development for neglected diseases to be considered at the upcoming World Health Assembly.

DNDi, a Geneva-based non-profit drug R&D organisation developing new treatments for neglected diseases, is generally seen as non-partisan on public health issues.

The policy brief is entitled: ‘Transforming Individual Successes into Sustainable Change to Ensure Health Innovation for Neglected Patients: Why an Essential Health R&D Convention Is Needed‘ [pdf].

The brief was issued in response to the recently released report of the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination (CEWG). The CEWG report is agenda item 13.14 of the WHA, which will be held from 21-26 May (IPW, WHO, 2 May 2012).

“Based on our own experience,” DNDi said in a release, “the brief outlines the factors that we deem essential, in the long term, for enhancing R&D to respond to the needs of neglected patients in developing countries: open innovation and pro-access IP management, sustainable financing mechanisms, coordination of R&D with commitment from endemic countries, and innovative regulatory pathways.”