Statement from TB Alliance on release of the G-FINDER 2024 Neglected Disease R&D Report
NEW YORK (January 29, 2025)—The G-FINDER 2024 Neglected Disease R&D Report, released today, finds that funding for neglected disease research and development (R&D) failed to rebound from its 10% backslide the previous year, falling another ~1%. Cumulative funding for tuberculosis (TB) R&D in the year 2023 stood at $806M, a fraction of the annual $5 billion funding target countries agreed to at the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on TB in September 2023.
Investing in neglected disease research is one of the most impactful and high-yielding financial decisions governments and development organizations can make. Impact Global Health, the publisher of the G-FINDER, issued a report in May 2024 that concluded funding for neglected disease R&D delivers a more than 400 to 1 return on investment.
Increased investment in neglected disease R&D is also critical to reverse the growing impact of global crises like antimicrobial resistance and climate change. TB is the leading cause of AMR-related death and climate change is driving the spread and exacerbation of many deadly, neglected diseases.
“It is an unfortunate juxtaposition that neglected disease products pipelines are more promising than ever, while support for this urgently needed research remains stagnant, or worse,” said Mel Spigelman, MD, president and CEO of TB Alliance. “In recent years, we’ve introduced lifesaving technologies like safe and effective treatments for drug-resistant TB and we’re poised to deliver a new generation of further improved therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics, but realizing that promise is dependent on sufficiently enhanced support for this work.”
Alarmingly, the decline of investment in product development partnerships (PDPs) for the research and development of innovations to address neglected diseases continued for the fifth consecutive year. PDPs have continually proven to be effective and cost-efficient developers of medical technologies for underserved diseases and populations.
A healthier and more prosperous world is possible, as is the achievement of audacious goals like the eradication of TB. We urge governments, private industry, and philanthropies around the world to adequately fund research and development for TB and other neglected diseases in line with previous commitments to save and improve the lives of millions around the world.