Developing new health technologies for
neglected diseases is a difficult business strategy to pursue.
Rob Don, director of Drug Discovery and Preclinical Research at the Drugs for
Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), outlined how this situation developed: "There was a lack of commercial viability, either as a push (e.g.
From 2000 to 2008, an average of 2.6 new drug products--including new molecular entities, vaccines, indications, combinations and formulations --were approved each year to combat
neglected diseases. That number increased to an average of five per year in the 2009-2012 period, according to Tufts CSDD.
Those stricken with
neglected diseases do not constitute a valuable enough market to stimulate adequate R&D for new medicines by the multinational pharmaceutical industry.
Partnering is an important driver for today's biotechnology companies, according to the report, "Biotechnology: Bringing Innovation to
Neglected Disease Research and Development" The research finds 64% of all products in development by biotechnology companies across the pipeline of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for
neglected diseases involve partnering.
Rabies is considered as a
neglected disease that largely affects vulnerable populations including the rural poor who do not have adequate access to information and health services.
The new designation follows the release of a recent report concluding that high blood pressure is a
neglected disease in the U.S.
In conjunction, Anacor will establish an expanded library of boron compounds to screen for additional potential drug candidates to treat
neglected diseases and will provide access to the expanded library compounds for
neglected disease research to the Gates Foundation and others, including academic, governmental and other non-profit institutions or equivalent entities.
The list of essential diagnostics also focuses on additional infectious diseases prevalent in low- and middle-income countries such as cholera, and
neglected diseases like leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and zika.
'Our partner in this campaign, Drugs for
Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) will ensure that all Malaysians have the opportunity to be tested and treated for this disease for free.