Fight to combat neglected diseases

KfW supports development and market launch of new vaccines and medicines in developing countries

• An additional EUR 50 million for product development partnerships and the expansion of health research
• Promotion of innovative health products in the private sector

On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), KfW entered into five additional product development partnerships (PDPs), amounting to a total of EUR 50 million, launching a second phase of the programme. In the first phase, the bank had already paid EUR 26.4 million to PDPs, which develop new, effective and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostic products that combat neglected and poverty-related tropical diseases. More than one billion people around the world are affected by these diseases, and three million people are dying of them each year. The PDPs bundle scientific knowledge, industrial expertise and civil society know-how and are funded by public and private sponsors.

"We are proud to further support the Federal Government in its important fight against neglected and poverty-related diseases," says Dr Norbert Kloppenburg, Member of the Executive Board of KfW Group. "Research funding as well as the support of the market launch of product developments in the relevant countries via the Global Health Investment Fund are an important contribution to improving the health of the population in developing and industrialising countries around the world," Dr Kloppenburg continues.

On behalf of the BMBF, KfW has entered into funding agreements with the following organisations:

• International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) for the development of safe microbicides for women to prevent HIV;
• PATH for the development of malaria vaccines;
• Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) for affordable medicines against tuberculosis with a fast onset of action;
• Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) for the development of new medicines against malaria;
• Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) for the development of medicines against African sleeping sickness, visceral Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and worm diseases.

Moreover, KfW on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) supports the Global Health Investment Fund (GHIF) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with a EUR 10 million grant. This innovative financial instrument contributes to combating maternal and infant mortality in developing countries. The GHIF finances the development and market launch of new medicines, vaccines, diagnostic instruments and family planning products in developing countries.

Health is a basic individual right in the eyes of KfW and is a prerequisite for economic development in developing countries. This is why the bank supports approximately 140 healthcare projects in more than 30 countries around the world. These relate to the fight against infectious diseases, HIV prevention and family planning, but also strengthening healthcare infrastructure and healthcare services as well as the development of social security systems.

Further information on KfW Development Bank is available at www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de.