GSK Announces £1 Billion R&D Investment in Fighting Infectious Diseases in Lower-Income Countries

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced on June 23, 2022 an investment of £1 billion (approximately US$1.2 billion) over 10 years to accelerate research and development (R&D) toward infectious diseases that disproportionately impact lower-income countries. The focus of the investment will be on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, neglected tropical diseases, and anti-microbial resistance, which account for more than 60% of the disease burden in many lower-income countries.

GSK Global Health R&D Hubs are progressing more than 30 potential new vaccines and medicines that will target 13 high-burden infectious diseases. The commitment supports the company’s goal to positively impact the health of more than 2.5 billion people in the next 10 years.

“I am delighted to renew our commitment to global health research for the coming decade, consistent with our purpose to unite our science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together and our ambition to deliver health impact at scale,” said Thomas Breuer, chief global health officer at GSK, in a press release. “Through our focus on scientific innovation in Global Health, we have delivered the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, the first radical cure of vivax malaria, tafenoquine, and a new tuberculosis vaccine candidate. GSK now has more than 30 potential new vaccines and medicines (including pre-clinical assets) in 13 high-burden infectious diseases to accelerate, and we must work collectively with urgency to bring these potentially life-saving innovations to people that need them.”

Source: GSK