Strategies towards ending the burden of neglected infectious diseases - Assessing the success of the Product Development Partnership model and its approaches

Delivering the right treatments for infectious diseases to those who need them most remains a challenge. Further, new tools are needed to sustain and expand treatment and control efforts. In this context, a product development partnership (PDP) is a non-profit organizational structure that enables the public, private, academic, and philanthropic sectors to aggregate funding to develop, test, and bring to licensure new health technologies for diseases of the developing world whose solutions lack commercial market potential. Yet, as of now, relatively few novel products have successfully crossed the finish line to reach health practitioners and patients. Therefore, it is critical to assess both the strengths and weakness of PDPs to understand what we need as a global health community, and how these organizations could further accelerate R&D for infectious diseases. This research aimed to analyse the effectiveness of PDPs in advancing R&D for infectious diseases using a mixed methods approach that integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study involved semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including PDP representatives, funders, and policymakers, alongside a quantitative analysis of PDP performance metrics to assess trends and critical success factors. The results underscore PDPs’ potential to enhance collaboration across sectors and facilitate resource mobilization for neglected diseases. However, the research also highlights key challenges, including sustainable funding, insufficient incentives for private-sector engagement, and limited coordination among stakeholders. Based on the findings, the study presents six policy recommendations: (1) sustainable/incremental funding for PDPs, (2) foster collaboration and partnership, (3) develop incentives for PDPs, (4) ensure quality control and quality assurance, (5) support sustainable business models, and (6) prioritize capacity building through strong and equal partnerships, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These recommendations offer actionable insights for PDPs, policymakers, funders, and global health stakeholders, providing a pathway for more effective global health R&D and the accelerated development of essential health solutions for neglected diseases.