News: Announcement

The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) welcomes commitments by G7 nations to advancing health research and development (R&D) included in the G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué. R&D has long been the bedrock of progress in global health—from driving the near eradication of polio to dramatically extending the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS to changing the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet sustained commitment is needed to deliver next generation innovations for enduring and emerging threats that are affordable and accessible to all people worldwide.That is why we are pleased to see G7 leaders reiterate support for strengthening the R&D of medical countermeasures (MCMs)—in line with the 100 Days Mission to reduce the impact of future pandemics by developing MCMs within 100 days—and commit to enhancing equitable access to MCMs by supporting diversified manufacturing and the launch of a new MCM delivery partnership. We also welcome their acknowledgement of the need to increase contributions to the World Bank Pandemic Fund and advance a new surge financing framework for future pandemics, both of which are urgently needed to unlock resources to strengthen R&D capacities in low- and middle-income countries and advance a sustainable end-to-end MCM R&D ecosystem. Given the setbacks in global health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, we are also encouraged to see leaders commit to spearheading research to tackle enduring challenges like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and implementing push and pull incentives to accelerate the R&D of antimicrobials.While we applaud G7 leaders for this timely recognition of the critical role of R&D in driving global health progress and preventing pandemics, we now call on them to match this rhetoric with tangible policies and financial pledges to translate these commitments into reality.

The Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) is greatly encouraged that yesterday’s G7 Nagasaki Health Ministers’ Communiqué contains strong support for investing in research and development (R&D) initiatives to strengthen pandemic preparedness, combat antimicrobial resistance, and address long-standing global health challenges.The COVID-19 pandemic underscored how vital the R&D of medical countermeasures (MCMs) is to addressing pandemic threats but also revealed systematic gaps in our ability to provide equitable access to the resulting tools. Thus, we applaud the G7’s support for developing an end-to-end MCM ecosystem and delivery partnership to coordinate the rapid development of and facilitate equitable, timely, and affordable global access to health tools during emergencies. We are also pleased to see the ministers voice continued commitment to the 100 Days Mission to reduce the impact of future pandemics by developing MCMs within 100 days and their recognition of the need to support regional bodies and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in strengthening R&D, clinical trial, and production capabilities. Additionally, we welcome the commitment to addressing the financing gaps of the World Bank Pandemic Fund, which has secured just US$1.6 billion in pledges against its $10.5 billion annual target, as it could prove a powerful new financial instrument to strengthen R&D and regulatory capacities in LMICs. Finally, we were encouraged to see leaders reaffirm the G7’s target of supporting at least 100 LMICs in implementing the core capacities required in the International Health Regulations for another five years until 2027, as committed in 2022, and underscore the need to strengthen existing institutions for capacity-building, including the Global Health Security Agenda.Given the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted critical resources and attention away from battles against other long-standing global health challenges, GHTC welcomes the G7’s support for investing in the development and adoption of innovative technologies for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases, as well as R&D for new antimicrobials, including contributing to existing global pooled efforts, such as the Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, and SECURE. However, we are disappointed G7 leaders failed to acknowledge the importance of strengthening the end-to-end ecosystem for poverty-related and neglected diseases and recognize more explicit linkages for dual-use capacity-building for both pandemic preparedness and ongoing health threats. Through yesterday’s communiqué, the G7 Health Ministers are sending an important signal that R&D continues to be critical for driving solutions to enduring and emerging threats. We now look to G7 nations to match this rhetoric with tangible policies and financial commitments to truly deliver a more resilient and equitable R&D ecosystem.

As the G20 Health Working Group meets next week to consider political commitments to better prepare for future health threats and advance health equity, GHTC urges them to prioritize the following actions to bolster global research and development (R&D) capabilities:Support the creation of a new pandemic global medical countermeasures platform: The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear that the world needs a global, end-to-end coordination platform to facilitate the rapid development, manufacturing, and equitable delivery of medical countermeasures during health crises. G20 nations should commit to supporting and financing a new platform that builds on lessons learned from the Access to Tools Accelerator and prioritizes accountability, transparency, agility, and inclusivity in its approach.Fully fund the World Bank Pandemic Fund. To date, the fund has secured just US$1.6 billion in pledges against its $10.5 annual target. G20 leaders should also ensure the fund invests in projects to strengthen laboratory, clinical research, and regulatory capacity to advance the development of and access to health technologies, work that is complementary to that of other international health initiatives. Increase investment in R&D for poverty-related and neglected diseases (PRNDs). The pandemic has diverted critical resources and attention away from battles against longstanding global health challenges like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. To reinvigorate these fights, G20 nations should boost funding and incentives for PRND R&D and support product development partnerships, which are uniquely equipped to advance technologies that are affordable, accessible, and adapted to the communities who need them. Center the needs of women, children, and other vulnerable populations in R&D. This includes enacting policies to improve collection and analysis of sex- and gender-disaggregated data and to ensure adequate representation of women, pregnant and lactating individuals, and other underrepresented populations in clinical trials. G20 nations should also work with the World Health Organization to develop target product profiles to advance therapeutic formulations for children, pregnant individuals, and other at-risk populations. Reprioritize R&D to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The G20 has demonstrated past leadership on AMR research through its support of the Global AMR R&D Hub. G20 nations should build on this by continuing to support hub operations and increasing investments and incentives for R&D for new and improved antimicrobials, point-of-care diagnostic devices, vaccines, and other technologies required to stay ahead of this rising threat.Integrate R&D into pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response mechanisms. As negotiations continue on the pandemic accord and reforms to the International Health Regulations (IHR), G20 nations should push for the accord to embrace a holistic approach to supporting end-to-end product development and for the IHR to include new amendments to promote R&D coordination and genetic sequence sharing and new indicators to assess R&D capabilities at the country level.It is our hope that the commitments of this year’s G20 will chart a new path toward realizing a more resilient, fit-for-purpose, and equitable R&D ecosystem.

At next month’s G7 Health Ministers meeting, G7 leaders will be considering political commitments that could impact the health and well-being of millions of people around the world. As G7 nations consider reforms to realize a more fit-for-purpose global health architecture, GHTC urges them to prioritize the following actions to strengthen research and development (R&D):Advance the “100 Days Mission PLUS,” which aims to reduce the impact of future pandemics by developing and making medical countermeasures available within 100 days. To achieve this, G7 nations should strongly invest in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, FIND, public health institutes, and regional manufacturing hubs, as well as scope and develop an international clinical trials network for coordinated testing and enhanced global regulatory collaboration.Fully fund the World Bank’s Pandemic Fund. To date, the fund has secured just US$1.6 billion in pledges against its $10.5 annual target. G7 leaders should also ensure the fund invests in projects to strengthen laboratory, clinical research, and regulatory capacity to advance the development of and access to health technologies, work that is complementary to that of other international health initiatives.Increase investment in R&D for poverty-related and neglected diseases (PRNDs). The pandemic has diverted critical resources and attention away from battles against long-standing global health challenges like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. To reinvigorate these fights, G7 nations should boost funding and incentives for PRND R&D and support product development partnerships, which are uniquely equipped to advance technologies that are affordable, accessible, and adapted to the communities who need them. Center the needs of women, children, and other vulnerable populations in R&D. This includes expanding the activities of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council, as well as enacting policies to improve the collection and analysis of sex- and gender-disaggregated data and ensuring adequate representation of women, pregnant or lactating individuals, and other underrepresented populations in clinical trials. G7 nations should also work with the World Health Organization to develop target product profiles to advance therapeutic formulations for children, pregnant individuals, and other at-risk populations.Re-prioritize R&D to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). G7 countries have demonstrated past leadership on AMR research through support of the Global AMR R&D Hub. G7 nations should build on this by continuing to support hub operations and increasing investments and incentives for R&D for new and improved antimicrobials, point-of-care diagnostic devices, vaccines, and other technologies required to stay ahead of this rising threat. Integrate R&D into pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response mechanisms. As negotiations continue on the pandemic accord and reforms to the International Health Regulations, G7 nations should push for the accord to embrace a holistic approach to supporting end-to-end product development and for the International Health Regulations to include new amendments to promote R&D coordination and genetic sequence sharing and new indicators to assess R&D capabilities at the country level.GHTC hopes that commitments made at this year’s G7 will take us one step closer to realizing a more resilient and equitable R&D ecosystem capable of delivering the tools needed to confront long-standing and emerging health threats.