ABSTRACT
Estimated costs for the development of new therapeutics range from $800million to $1.5 billion. It is not surprising, therefore, that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies target their drug development activities to indications, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, for which themarket can repay the outlay and ensure profits. In the case of diseases that disproportionately affect populations in developing countries, this equation is non-functional, suppressing the development of drugs and other interventions, such as diagnostics and vaccines, that are desperately needed for poor populations. A decade ago, a new paradigm for the development of these ‘tools’ emerged – the creation of the Product Development Public/Private Partnerships or PDPs, that leverage the resources and skills of the public sector, philanthropy, and industry to address these neglected health needs. This chapter discusses the development, evolution, and advances made by PDPs, the way they carry out their mission, and where they are today, using as a case study the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development.
