In 2007, Policy Cures developed G-FINDER – an innovative survey to track global investments into neglected disease research and development (R&D). The findings are released as annual G-FINDER reports, starting in 2008, and available via a publicly-searchable database. G-FINDER is a uniquely informative data source, providing policy-makers, funders, researchers and industry with objective, previously unavailable information on the state of investment, trends and patterns:
The data includes all types of product-related R&D, including basic research, discovery and preclinical, clinical development, Phase IV and pharmacovigilance studies, and baseline epidemiological studies.
In 2014, Policy Cures reported on investment in reproductive health R&D for developing countries. The
G-FINDER Reproductive Health 2014 report provided, for the first time, comprehensive information on investment patterns:
FUTURE REPORTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM POLICY CURES RESEARCH AT www.policycuresresearch.org
This report was jointly prepared by Policy Cures and Policy Cures Research
Download ReportEvery year, more than 6 million people in low- and middle-income countries die from neglected diseases, for which the vaccines, medicines and diagnostic tests are either ineffective or completely lacking. This factsheet reviews government funding of the research and development (R&D) needed to make these missing products, including:
Germany is now the fourth biggest public funder of neglected disease R&D globally in absolute terms however, in terms of its spend as a percentage of GDP (in 2012), it ranks below many other European countries including UK, France, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Germany has a strong scientific history and a network of highly regarded research institutes active in R&D. As a G8 economy, Germany has the economic potential, unlike some of its European counterparts struggling to respond to the global economic crisis, to boost its neglected disease R&D funding and to capitalise on its R&D strengths. This report (also in German):
Effective diagnostics are essential tools for the control, elimination and eradication of neglected diseases, with the ability to quickly and accurately identify infections critical to ensuring that patients receive the treatment they need and halting the further spread of disease. One of the great challenges to monitoring disease emergence and delivering appropriate control measures is the lack of readily available, easy-to-use, reliable and low-cost diagnostic tools. Despite the pressing need for new diagnostics, and the obvious advantages to developing effective diagnostic tools, current funding levels for research and development of new diagnostics are insufficient to meet the needs of many neglected diseases.
This factsheet examines funding of diagnostic research and development globally, based on G-FINDER data, and discusses the urgent need to rationalise funding, diversify funding sources and increase priority driven investments.
Download Fact SheetDiarrhoea is one of the six conditions identified in the fourth Millennium Development Goal: reduce child mortality, that lead to the majority of child deaths. In 2010, diarrhoeal diseases caused 1.1 million deaths and 66.5 million years of productive life lost in developing countries. Whilst preventive measures such as clean drinking water and sanitation can reduce the risk of infection, research and development (R&D) of new tools is equally important, particularly for vaccines as they can prevent infection.
This factsheet examines funding for diarrhoeal disease R&D globally from 2007-2011 and discusses the need to increase the focus on under-funded disease areas, diversify funding sources and balance funding distribution between basic research and product development.
Download Fact Sheet