Developing Drugs For Developing Countries

Linking incentives for essential drugs in developing countries with "blockbuster" drugs in the developed world would help both achieve better population health. by David B. Ridley, Henry G. Grabowski, and Jeffrey L. Moe ABSTRACT: Infectious and parasitic diseases create enormous health burdens, but be- cause most of the people suffering from these diseases are poor, little is invested in devel- oping treatments. We propose that developers of treatments for neglected diseases receive a "priority review voucher." The voucher could save an average of one year of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review and be sold by the developer to the manufacturer of a blockbuster drug. In a well-functioning market, the voucher would speed access to highly valued treatments. Thus, the voucher could benefit consumers in both developing and de- veloped countries at relatively low cost to the taxpayer. (Health Affairs 25, no. 2 (2006):