The annual G-FINDER report provides policy-makers, donors, researchers, and industry with a comprehensive analysis of global investment into research and development (R&D) of new products to prevent, diagnose, control, or cure neglected diseases in developing countries. It gives an up-to-date analysis of how R&D investments are being allocated across 33 neglected diseases, and product types, funding trends over time, and where the potential gaps lie.
Dr Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft, DNDi Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases
“DNDi welcomes the findings of this year’s G-FINDER report, which showed that global funding for neglected disease research and development (R&D) in 2017 was at the highest level ever recorded. It also highlights the benefits of sustained, long-term commitment of numerous donors, which made medical breakthroughs possible, such as the development by DNDi of fexinidazole – the first all-oral, short course treatment for both stages of sleeping sickness, a treatment that should also contribute to UHC via simplifying access to care.
2017 was also notable for the increased investment in R&D by India and South Africa to address the needs of their own endemic neglected populations and those in other countries. It also shows the sustained commitment from High Income Countries (HIC), like the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as from private long-standing donors like the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), or the more recent investment of The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
However, we are still falling short of where we need to be. The funding gap for new tools to tackle neglected diseases ranges from €1.8 billion for uncomplicated neglected diseases to €8.7 billion for more complex ones, according to recent work based upon the G-FINDER survey. Chagas disease, for example, continues to be underfunded. Other World Health Organization-NTDs are not yet included in the report, such as mycetoma, scabies, or snakebite.”
