Patent Pools-Driving Global Health Initiatives

Track C: The Role of Life Sciences in Public & Global Health

Developing treatments for neglected diseases requires more than an effort from a single company, but needs the combination of skills and efforts from corporate, academic and public sectors. In March 2009, GlaxoSmithKline created a patent pool to aid in the development of medicines for treatment of neglected tropical diseases. The pool is now administered by BIO Ventures for Global Health, backed by support from the Gates Foundation. In January 2010, Emory, through its Institute for Drug Development, became the first university to agree to partner with GSK for this development. The discussion will focus on the creation of these partnerships and obstacles that are being faced in addressing the treatment of neglected diseases.