A new study in Vaccine examines the investments in research and development for bacterial vaccines with a focus on low- and middle-income country-driven research. Researchers analyzed publicly available funding data on projects active from January 2007 to January 25, 2024, from the G-FINDER and Global AMR R&D Hub databases, and found that global funding of vaccine R&D for bacterial pathogens in this dataset totals US$4.5 billion, most of which was received by organizations in North America and Europe, with Asia, Africa, and Central/South America collectively receiving less than 20 % of the total funding. Philanthropic and intermediary organizations, particularly Product Development Partnerships (PDPs), emerge as critical players in mobilizing and coordinating resources for bacterial vaccine R&D in LMICs.
The study shows the need for further investment into vaccines for bacterial pathogens, highlighting the gap in R&D funding for several of the pathogens on the WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List. The authors hope that the gap analysis will stimulate funding agencies and policy makers to invest in vaccines against bacterial pathogens, that ultimately will aid in addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Thumbnail image credit: WHO/ Etinosa Yvonne
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