British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced an investment of one billion euros (1.23 billion U.S dollars), spanning 10 years to fight infectious diseases in lower-income countries.
NewsBeatng reports that the new investment in research and development (R&D) supports further innovation in malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, with a new emphasis on neglected tropical diseases and anti-microbial resistance.
To deliver against these targets, GSK has formed a dedicated, non-commercial global health unit to support its efforts in this regard.
The unit aims to deliver next-generation vaccines and medicines for malaria and tuberculosis, offering shorter, simpler, safer treatment options for patients, including R&D on long-acting injectables to protect against Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
The company also reaffirmed its commitment to supply albendazole, the largest medicine donation ever made, until lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis morbidity are eliminated as public health problems everywhere.
GSK also plans doubling production of its AS01 adjuvant for use in the RTS,S malaria vaccine to help meet projected demand in the medium term.
The company also said that GSK Global Health R&D hubs were progressing more than 30 potential new vaccines and medicines, targeting 13 high-burden infectious diseases.
Shares of GSK were trading in pre-market at 42.41 U.S. dollars on Thursday, up by 0.44 dollars or 1.05 per cent from the previous close.
