GHTC applauds CSIS Commission report highlighting need for global health research, innovative financing

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer today announced that they have joined the first Advance Market Commitment (AMC), a unique funding effort to bring pneumococcal vaccines to millions of children worldwide. The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) commends increased involvement in the AMC and calls on the United States to participate in innovative health financing mechanisms, including a future AMC, to maximize the life-saving potential of immunizations worldwide. The first AMC was launched by the GAVI Alliance, the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and five national governments in June 2009. The introduction of a pneumococcal vaccine through the AMC is projected to prevent an estimated 900,000 deaths by 2015 and more than seven million deaths by 2030. In addition, the long-term price of a vaccine will be lowered from more than US$70 per dose to $3.50 under the AMC. "Today’s landmark announcement promises to make new vaccines available affordably, where they are urgently needed, and faster than ever before. Through this AMC, and thanks to the political will demonstrated by donors and least developed nations and the participation of the pharmaceutical companies, prevention against the world’s biggest childhood killer is now within reach,” said GAVI Alliance CEO Dr. Julian Lob-Levyt. These benefits underscore why the United States should consider engaging with future AMCs. The vaccine research pipeline is more promising than ever, with late-stage trials beginning on vaccines for diseases ranging from meningitis to malaria. It is crucial that this promising pipeline receives support from a wide range of partners to ensure success. US engagement in efforts to stimulate the development and delivery of immunizations is crucial to sustaining and building on this momentum. The Lantos-Hyde Act of 2008 directs the United States to invest in a future AMC, and the GHTC strongly urges policymakers to begin exploring how to engage in future AMC opportunities. "As these new partnerships demonstrate, the pharmaceutical industry and other global health stakeholders are increasingly recognizing the AMC's role in spurring the development and delivery of vaccines for the developing world," said R. Gordon Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Chairman of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. "US support for AMCs would guarantee that recent successes in creating vaccines are sustained and extended going forward, saving the lives of even more children in the developing world." Read the GAVI Alliance press release on the organization's website.

President Obama's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal clearly demonstrates that the White House is committed to research and development (R&D) and global health issues by increasing funding for several key US agencies. The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) applauds this commitment to innovation and urges the Obama administration to continue to bolster and integrate its investment in R&D. President Obama's budget proposal would allocate nearly $32 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which lists global health as one of its priorities for FY 2011. In addition, the Department of State, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), would receive approximately $8.5 billion in global health funding under the president's proposal. All three agencies would receive funding increases under the president’s proposal compared with FY 2010. These agencies play crucial roles in global health R&D, and portions of each of their budgets are used for such research. “Developing new tools and encouraging innovation are crucial to ensuring that people in the developing world have access to the drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and other tools they need to survive,” said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, a GHTC member organization . “In the current economic downturn, President Obama’s budgetary increases for these agencies and global health efforts overall show how committed this Administration is to addressing today’s most pressing global health needs and preparing to meet tomorrow’s challenges.” The R&D work carried out by NIH and USAID is key to meeting broader US global health goals. NIH is the leading US government agency for biomedical research support and operations, while USAID catalyzes the development of innovative health products in the developing world and connects potential partners. New tools can help advance overall US global health priorities by improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the diseases that affect vulnerable populations worldwide. Although increasing the budget for key agencies is an important first step, R&D funding still falls short of a target of 3 percent of US gross domestic product, which President Obama set in April 2009 during a speech to the National Academy of Sciences. More can be done by the US government to advance these new tools, and the GHTC strongly urges the Administration to boost the importance of innovation surrounding new health tools and products through the FY 2011 budget. “R&D for new tools and technologies is at a crucial crossroads, as so much progress has been made on new vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and other tools,” said Jana Armstrong, executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative North America, a GHTC member. “Despite this tremendous progress, further scientific advances will be critical to a comprehensive global health response. The United States should boost its commitment to the innovation that will ultimately save lives worldwide.”