[Ip-health] MSF statement on launch of G-FINDER report on R&D

[James ARKINSTALL]

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Hello=0D
Please find below the statement by Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, director=0D
of the MSF Access Campaign, issued for the launch of the G-FINDER report=0D
on neglected disease R&D.=0D
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James=0D
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Statement by Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer,=0D
Director of the Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, M=C3=A9decins S=
ans=0D
Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
In response to the publication of the G-FINDER report=0D
London, 4th February 2009=0D
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=C2=A7 The G-FINDER report provides welcome new data on how R&D funding is=
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currently being allocated.=0D
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=C2=A7 MSF has been calling for medical R&D to be steered according to real=
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medical needs, so that the development of urgently-needed tools, such as a=
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tuberculosis diagnostic test, are prioritised.  The G-FINDER report=0D
suggests a methodology to determine how R&D should be prioritised=0D
according to potential health impacts. As such it provides a foundation=0D
for future work in order to ensure that R&D is driven by medical needs.=0D
But further work needs to be done to get behind top line figures and=0D
identify the needs and priorities within disease areas.=0D
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=C2=A7 The G-FINDER report does not estimate the total funding needs.  It t=
hus=0D
fails to show the extent to which diseases are under-funded. All areas are=
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under-funded, and it would be a mistake to start spreading the funds even=
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thinner across more diseases.  We need to look at how much is needed, not=
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just how much is being spent.=0D
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=C2=A7 Nor does the G-FINDER report look at how R&D funds should be disburs=
ed.=0D
New approaches are necessary.  We need to challenge existing thinking and=
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broaden the field of researchers working on neglected disease research -=0D
R&D needs will not be met just by giving more money to PDPs. Alternative=0D
funding mechanisms are needed.  Push funding through grants need boosting,=
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but pull funding also needs to be rolled out and in a way that ensures=0D
access to products that answer medical needs.  Mechanisms that separate=0D
the costs of R&D from the prices of the developed products, such as recent=
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proposals for prize funds, have a crucial role to play.=0D
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=C2=A7 The G-FINDER report confirms MSF analysis showing that European=0D
countries are not paying their fair share.  Take tuberculosis research -=0D
how can it be that the contributions of the European Commission added to=0D
the EU member states are dwarfed by the US, only accounting for around 30%=
=0D
of what the US is investing?  The G-FINDER comes as a confirmation to=0D
recent MSF analysis (1) showing that Europeans are paying pitifully low=0D
amounts.  In 2008, MSF called on the EC to increase its contribution to TB=
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five fold.  Their responsibility is clear: countries right on Europe=E2=80=
=99s=0D
doorstep =E2=80=93 even within the EU =E2=80=93 are struggling against resi=
stant strains=0D
of TB.  Tuberculosis is knocking loudly on the door, and the research=0D
pipeline is desperately insufficient, but the European Commission is=0D
playing deaf.  This is all the more shocking given that the EC has already=
=0D
allocated over 8 billion euros to health research for 2007-2013. (2)  The=
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money is there, but neglected diseases remain neglected.=0D
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=C2=A7 The G-FINDER report does not address the important question of acces=
s to=0D
any developed product. Even if research does take place, the stark reality=
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is that access to the fruits of innovation is far from a given because it=
=0D
depends on pricing or registration policies pursued.  A pneumoccocal=0D
vaccine able to dramatically reduce the number of children dying, for=0D
example, was approved in 2000 by the U.S. FDA.  Over nine years later, the=
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vaccine remains expensive, is marketed in a highly impracticable form and=
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is not available in the least developed countries where it could have made=
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the biggest difference in reducing unnecessary death. Innovation is=0D
useless if people cannot benefit from the fruits of it.=0D
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=C2=A7 The G-FINDER report comes at an important time. The World Health=0D
Organization is implementing a Global Strategy and Plan of Action to=0D
=E2=80=98secure an enhanced and sustainable basis for needs-driven, essenti=
al=0D
health research and development relevant to diseases that=0D
disproportionately affect developing countries, proposing clear objectives=
=0D
and priorities for research and development, and estimating funding needs=
=0D
in this area.=E2=80=99 (3)  It is important that before any conclusions of =
the=0D
report are adopted, the WHO and countries review its conclusions and=0D
assess whether they match their needs and priorities.=0D
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(1) Cough up for TB! The Underfunding of Research for Tuberculosis and=0D
Other Neglected Diseases by (1) the European Commission and (2) Germany.=0D
MSF. Geneva 2008.=0D
www.msfaccess.org/main/tuberculosis/msf-tb-research-funding-report-november=
-08/=0D
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(2) Figures for Framework Programme on Research and Development 7,=0D
including the Cooperation Programme Health budget (=E2=82=AC6.1 bn) and the=
=0D
Innovative Medicines Initiative (=E2=82=AC2 bn).  This is an underestimate =
as it=0D
excludes the funds allocated to the European Research Council (=E2=82=AC7.5=
 bn),=0D
the data for which is not disaggregated.=0D
See Cough up for TB! p9-10=0D
(3) World Health Assembly Resolution 59.24, May 2006. Public health,=0D
innovation, essential health research and intellectual property rights:=0D
towards a global strategy and plan of action=0D
www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA59/A59_R24-en.pdf=0D
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The G-FINDER itself can be downloaded here:=0D
www.thegeorgeinstitute.org/prpppubs=0D
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James ARKINSTALL=0D
=0D
Senior Communications Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res - Campaign for Access to Essential Medic=
ines=0D
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www.msfaccess.org=0D
+33 1 40 21 2837=0D
+33 6 13 99 7751 (mobile)=0D