Progress Report on Neglected Tropical Disease Drug Donation Programs.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Global Health

Background:

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) significantly impact global health, especially in developing countries.
• Cost-effective treatments exist, often through drug donations.
• The London Declaration (2012) spurred pharmaceutical companies to commit to NTD drug donations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess progress on drug donation commitments made in the London Declaration.
• To evaluate the extent and impact of pharmaceutical company donations for NTDs.

Main Methods:

• Searched Medline, LexisNexis, and reports for relevant publications and data.
• Surveyed 10 pharmaceutical companies with drug donation programs signatory to the London Declaration.
• Collected data on current donations, pledges, program objectives, and impact measurement.

Main Results:

• Nine companies reported substantial progress, donating over 1 billion treatments valued at $1.5 billion in 2014.
• Not all donated treatments reached patients; some programs lacked clear objectives or impact metrics.
• Several donation programs were scheduled to end before 2020, with no reported impact on disease prevalence.

Conclusions:

• Drug donations are crucial but insufficient for patient access to NTD treatments.
• Enhanced resource allocation for product delivery and program accountability is essential.
• Stakeholder collaboration and extended commitments are vital for NTD elimination.