Open innovation to bolster research and development for neglected and emerging infectious diseases

Infections remain a significant cause of disease, disability, and death in developing countries. Unfortunately many of these infections, including centuries-old, neglected diseases such as malaria and newly emerging and re-emerging diseases such as Ebola virus disease (EVD), have limited products available to prevent, diagnose, and treat them. One barrier that hinders the development of these products is neglected and emerging disease experts’ limited access to the biopharmaceutical industry’s small molecules, technologies, and know-how. Conversely, the biopharmaceutical industry’s lack of attention to and expertise in these diseases impedes the development of much needed products. Organizations are addressing these challenges by developing platforms through which disease experts can access industry’s knowledge and assets. Strategic partnerships are applying a synergistic approach to leveraging the respective strengths of academia and industry. The following article describes two open innovation platforms, the Pool for Open Innovation against Neglected Tropical Diseases (POINT) and WIPO Re:Search, and two strategic, cross-sector collaborative efforts to develop therapeutics for EVD.