Challenges in a product development partnership: a malaria treatment case study

Area of Science:

• * Global Health
• * Pharmaceutical Development
• * Public Health Policy

Background:

• * Development of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of artesunate and mefloquine in Brazil.
• * Project undertaken within a public-private partnership framework.
• * Focus on medication access, success reporting, and lessons learned.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To examine the development of the artesunate-mefloquine FDC treatment in Brazil.
• * To evaluate medication access, project successes, and lessons learned.
• * To analyze the outcomes of a public-private partnership in pharmaceutical development.

Main Methods:

• * Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in the development phases.
• * Analysis of relevant project documentation.
• * Utilized a logical model for medication access and program evaluation frameworks.

Main Results:

• * Successful creation of the artesunate-mefloquine FDC product.
• * Achieved aims of strengthening institutional/individual capacities, alliances, and advocacy.
• * Identified challenges in product adoption planning, demand irregularities, and irregular adoption in the Americas.

Conclusions:

• * The project successfully developed a new antimalarial treatment and met key objectives.
• * Insufficient planning for product adoption led to demand and production irregularities.
• * Future public-private partnerships require mitigation of identified process weaknesses for improved outcomes.