[Ip-health] A dose of reality- Will the Advanced Market Commitment pilot maximise lives saved?

[Terri - Louise Beswick]

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A dose of reality: Will the Advanced Market Commitment pilot maximise
lives saved?



Today, a new paper has been launched that challenges the established
arguments for the Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) model and reveals a
history of rejected alternatives that could increase the number of
children immunised by the millions. Advanced Market Commitments: Current
Realities and Alternate Approaches by Professor Donald W. Light,
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA has been
published by Health Action International and Medico International.

"For donors, public health advocates and most importantly, developing
country governments, patients and consumers, this paper offers a fresh
perspective on the AMC design and the problematic process that has
driven the pilot project." Tim Reed, Director, Health Action
International.

The purpose of the AMC concept sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation was to motivate originator pharmaceutical companies to
conduct research into vaccines for the 'neglected diseases' that mainly
affect developing countries. Instead, GAVI's (Global Alliance for
Vaccines and Immunisation) AMC pilot has become an overpriced
procurement agreement for supplementary doses of existing vaccines
developed for affluent markets. Donors have committed more than 1.5
billion USD to purchasing vaccines at a price that locks in extra
profits and reduces the number of children that could be immunised.

Whilst acknowledging the importance of the essential AMC concept, the
report looks behind the bright lights and marketing speak and offers a
deeper insight into the history and development of the concept. Light
presents a critique of the design process and proposes workable
alternatives to the current model, combining advanced purchasing with
low prices and sharing or licensing of intellectual property.

Oxfam International agrees that "the first advanced market commitment,
as the report demonstrates, has a number of fundamental flaws that
should raise concern amongst donors and public health experts. Oxfam
hopes both donor countries and GAVI pay heed to the findings of this
paper and consider major changes to the first advanced market commitment
to ensure it truly meets the needs of poor people in developing
countries."

Advanced Market Commitments: Current Realities and Alternate Approaches
reopens the debate about how best to structure advanced purchases so
that they truly address the burden of neglected diseases in developing
countries. There is no more important question for proponents of the AMC
than how to maximise the number of children immunised.

"Oxfam lauds this new publication as a thorough critique of the many
problems associated with the first advanced market commitment. It is
essential to identify new sources of financing to create incentives to
develop new medicines and vaccines that address the needs of poor
countries." Oxfam International



This report is especially timely as the World Health Organization Expert
Working Group on R&D financing, established in November 2008 to gather
ideas and proposals on how to stimulate research into neglected
diseases, is now conducting a consultation process. Though the AMC
concept may be the most high profile, it is not the only answer and
there are a number of ideas and proposals for innovative financing that
should also be considered.



Please click here for the full report:
http://www.haiweb.org/31032009/27%20Mar%202009%20AMC%20Current%20Realiti
es%20&%20Alternate%20Approaches%20FINAL.pdf



Kind regards,



Terri Beswick

Communications Officer



Health Action International

Overtoom 60/II

1054 HK Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Tel: +31 20 489 1077

Mobile: +31 6 3494 0978

Fax: +31 20685 5002

Email: terri@haiweb.org <mailto:tim@haiweb.org>

Website: http://www.haiweb.org <http://www.haiweb.org/>



Health Action International (HAI) is an independent, global network
working to increase access to essential medicines and improve their
rational use through research excellence and evidence-based advocacy.



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