A recent study published by Lancet Global Health found that out of the 850 new drugs and vaccines approved in the last 12 years, only four percent were for one of the 49 "neglected" diseases. Neglected diseases are those such as tuberculosis and malaria, as well as other obscure ailments that specifically impact poor, developing regions of the world. Why do you believe minimal attention is paid to these neglected diseases and how should the medical community address this statistic?

Prof. Donald S. Shepard (Heller)

The recent paper in Lancet Global Health pointed out that only four percent of registered clinical trials were related to neglected tropical diseasees. This limited share largely reflects the fact that clinical development of drugs and vaccines, including expensive field testing, is largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry. With some exceptions, that industry seeks profit, which generally means developing products that promise high sales in high-income countries. To interpret the findings, it is worth recalling that clinical trials are but one component of a cycle that includes basic research, clinical trials, operations research and financing and support for implementaiton. Donor agencies, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation or the World Bank, fund technical support and incentives. This support contributed to the fact that the share for neglected tropical diseases, while small, has quadrupled since a comparable study a decade ago.

Donald S. Shepard is a Professor at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

Flora Wang '15

The neglected or orphan diseases of society are often overlooked for more profitable research industries such as makeup or accessory medication like Viagra. Although diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria have greater implications for human mortality, they often affect more third-world countries because of the poor living conditions that are conducive to these diseases. In order to correct this social injustice, large research companies must be incentivized to focus on these diseases with financial incentives such as subsidies from the government or other interested parties. In addition, there should be more public awareness campaigns to have more individuals become incentivized to care about these diseases to raise money for further research. With increased incentives for better venture capital investments, legislation and collaboration between different industries with a better culture of sharing information, these diseases will surely have the medical breakthrough we have hoped for.

Flora Wang '15 is a double major in Biochemistry and Health: Science, Society and Policy.

Bharvi Marsha Patel '14

In the modern society efficiency dictates many of our actions. In the health care field for example, diseases that can be cured, contained and even eradicated with minimal efforts are the ones to get attention and funds. The reason that such minimal attention is given to neglected diseases is because these diseases are most prevalent in communities that have low resources, political turmoil and little access to health care. Investing money in finding vaccines for these diseases will not be efficient even if such vaccinations are created because the implementation of the medication proves to be a bigger struggle. On the other hand, developed countries have already controlled these diseases and can afford to invest in rare conditions because they have the resources and the means to provide access to the vaccinations. The medical community needs to work better to collaborate with different sectors within these developing countries to ensure that political, transportation and cultural barriers do not hinder combatting neglected diseases.

Bharvi Patel '14 is the chair of the Brandeis Global Brigades.

Michael Kahnowitz '14

I am not surprised by this statistic at all. Massachusetts has experienced a resurgence of these "neglected" diseases like Tuberculosis and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. In fact last year there was a reported TB case on the Brandeis campus! Last sumer I visited the Massachusetts State House to educate lawmakers about these increased occurrences and to inform them of the potentially significant harm they could cause to a community. Most legislators were unaware of these public health hazards because until recently, the infections were relatively non-existent. While that is a testament to how successful we have been in combating various infections, we are not immune and should not relent on fighting these diseases. Contacting lawmakers about these issues is an incredibly good way to support the institutions that combat these ailments, such as the Hinton State Laboratory Institute, which is responsible for monitoring the frequency of various infectious diseases like TB, EEE, rabies and HIV.

Michael Kahnowitz is currently enrolled in the dual HSSP-MPP graduate program at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.