In the world of global health, 2011 has been a year of ups and downs, with new reports of great progress made in the fields of malaria, tuberculosis, and African sleeping sickness, but also of diminishing funding for important research and development of neglected diseases. A bright spot was the appointment of a strong leader, Dr. Seth Berkeley, to head the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations -- a sign that despite ongoing economic constraints, rich countries are still serious about providing life-saving health technologies to the poor. The larger vision of a more equitably healthy world remains intact.

 

At BIO Ventures for Global Health, we have forged ahead, building on past knowledge and experience in our continuing mission to bring the private and public sectors together for one common goal: a healthier world.

 

In March, we launched the third edition of the Global Health Primer to showcase opportunities for biopharmaceutical engagement in global health. By connecting the dots between neglected diseases product needs and scientific approaches that are well known to the biopharmaceutical industry, our Global Health Primer provides a rich source of information and a roadmap for action in the neglected disease space. Very soon we will begin to issue analyses of these data to guide policymakers and funders in their program and investment work. As trend data accumulate over time, this resource will exponentially increase in its value.

 

At the third Partnering for Global Health Forum, held in conjunction with the BIO International Convention in Washington, DC, we brought together more than 200 on-site attendees -- and more than 300 webcast viewers from around the world. At the Forum, leaders such as Dr. Francis Collins, director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, and Bongi Gumede, senior general manager at the Technology Innovation Agency of South Africa came together with other key stakeholders in the biopharmaceutical, global health, academic, non-profit, investor, government, and funder communities to discuss, debate, and discover new ways to drive new product development for neglected diseases.

 

Also at the BIO International Convention, BVGH unveiled an innovative new mechanism -- the 'pay-for-success' Global Health Innovation Quotient Prize -- that aims to help donors maximize global health research and development funding as well as encourage biotechnology companies to invest in low-cost, high-impact solutions for neglected diseases. This incentive approach has been endorsed by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, with many major government and non-governmental organizations informally supporting the proposal.

 

In October, eight major pharmaceutical companies, research universities, neglected diseases researchers, and multilateral organizations came together with BVGH and the World Intellectual Property Organization to launch WIPO Re:Search -- an unprecedented collaboration to speed the development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and tuberculosis. By providing a searchable, public database of intellectual property and patents, expertise, and other resources, we believe that WIPO Re:Search will facilitate new partnerships with organizations that conduct research on treatments, vaccines, and diagnostics for these diseases and speed the development of new medicines and tools for the developing world. This initiative taken by industry illustrates an entirely new approach to how we collectively work within existing intellectual property systems to benefit the poor.

 

This is my last letter as the CEO of BVGH as Don Joseph, the current COO, takes over on February 1, 2012. I am excited about my new role as Executive Chair of BVGH, and especially thrilled that a long-time executive in the biotech industry who also has global health experience will be taking over the reins. Don's vision and passion for global health will, I am sure, take the organization in new and valuable directions.

 

In 2012, BVGH will focus on building off of the success of the Global Health Primer, expanding WIPO Re:Search, and much more. We look forward to continue engaging you in our work at the crossroads of biotechnology and global health to lessen the burden of neglected diseases felt by more than 1 billion people worldwide.

 

Warm regards, 

 

Melinda Moree, CEO