§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to encourage drugs companies to increase funding for research into the diseases which most threaten lives of the people of poor countries. [HL784]
§ Baroness AmosCurrently, only 10 per cent of global research funds are dedicated to the 90 per cent of disease burden that affects the poor. The UK Government are working to encourage public-private partnerships to increase investment in research for new medicines.
The Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit is carrying out a study on a wide range of policy options, with the aim of improving access and affordability of drugs in developing countries. This includes strengthening research and development incentives for the pharmaceutical industry. Possible mechanisms are tax incentives for research into specific diseases and common purchase funds (where governments and international agencies provide a purchase guarantee for the development of a specific drug).
The UK Government are a major contributor to several innovative international partnerships between the public and private sectors. Those with a strong research component include the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).