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Public private partnerships

GSK wants to continue investing in research to tackle diseases that blight the developing world. However, there is a dilemma. Pharmaceutical companies must be profitable to sustain their business and to continue to develop new medicines. This business model does not work in cases where there is no prospect of a commercial return. Unfortunately, because of the lack of resources in endemic countries, there is limited profit to be made from new treatments for many diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries.

The public private partnership (PPP) model, in which business and the public sector work together, offers a solution to this problem.

In a PPP, companies such as GSK provide the R&D, technology, manufacturing and distribution expertise. Academic institutions may also be involved providing research and disease area knowledge. Public sector partners, such as governments, or organisations such as the Gates Foundation, help fund the development and delivery costs and ensure that medicines get to the people who need them. Funds are usually channelled through organisations such as the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) or the Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI). Importantly, any new treatments resulting from these research efforts are made accessible to the developing world at an affordable price.

Initial drug discovery for diseases of the developing world (DDW) takes place at our dedicated DDW Discovery Centre at Tres Cantos. GSK provides the facilities and meets all the costs of running the site. There are 100 scientists employed by GSK at Tres Cantos half of whom are subsidised by our partner organisations - the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (GATB). Research programmes are overseen by joint steering committees with representatives from GSK and our partner organisations.

As compounds move into clinical development, GSK provides the clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise and resources through our global R&D and supply network. Partner organisations help fund the cost of running clinical trials and address issues of access and distribution. This reduces the costs of development and gets new products to patients faster.

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