The case for a global therapeutics development coalition: Building a therapeutics pipeline for pandemic and endemic diseases
3 September 2024
“The case for a global therapeutics development coalition: Building a therapeutics pipeline for pandemic and endemic diseases,” published in PLOS One and co-authored by MPP’s Esteban Burrone, emphasises the urgent need to develop effective therapeutics to prepare for and respond to endemic and pandemic diseases, as demonstrated by the recent Mpox PHEIC.
To ensure a healthy global therapeutics pipeline and equitable access in low- and middle-income countries, the article proposes the formation of a Therapeutics Development Coalition. This coalition would bring together stakeholders from academia, early-stage developers, government, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector. The goal is to invigorate the therapeutics pipeline for future pandemics and endemic diseases, and to advocate for increased investment and coordination of end-to-end therapeutics development.
Rather than creating a new entity, the coalition should consist of existing partners working towards the shared goal of ensuring the availability and access to therapeutics. A recent meeting held at the Wellcome Trust in London (June 2024) marked the beginning of this collective effort, bringing together stakeholders from around the world to discuss the necessary steps to make this a reality across the therapeutics value chain. The primary gap identified is the lack of candidates in the pipeline.
The 100 Days Mission partners, including Shingai Machingaidze, Carmen Pérez Casas, Sheila Mburu, Ruxandra Draghia Akli, Charles Mowbray, James Rosen, Esteban Burrone, Mona Nemer, and Victor Dzau, outline how this can be achieved through the proposed coalition. By leveraging global stakeholders, the coalition aims to build a robust therapeutics development pipeline and ensure equitable access to therapeutics in LMICs.
