EDCTP to hold workshop with pharmaceutical companies on 26 June 2012
The European and Developing Countries Partnership (EDCTP) has invited more than 20 pharmaceutical companies to a workshop on the possibilities of intensifying future collaboration. The workshop will take place in The Hague, The Netherlands on 26 June 2012. Its objective is to define a framework for stronger and broader public-private partnerships and an extended collaboration with pharmaceutical industry in the anticipated second EDCTP programme. Participants will include representatives from pharmaceutical companies, the European Commission, and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).
EDCTP working group on collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry
The workshop is part of EDCTP’s initiative to intensify collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry. Since 2003, several pharmaceutical companies have been involved in EDCTP projects, mainly as providers of investigational products and registered comparative products for specific clinical trials. In 2011, the EDCTP Private Sector Relations Working Group led by EDCTP Executive Director Prof. Charles Mgone explored possibilities for both broader and more direct involvement of the pharmaceutical industry in the EDCTP programme. Since January 2012, EDCTP has been meeting key representatives of pharmaceutical companies to prepare for this workshop.
Background
The initiative to intensify collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry is part of a broader EDCTP effort to foster cooperation of public and private partners for clinical research on poverty-related diseases and neglected infectious diseases. EDCTP’s mandate and broad network of stakeholders in Europe and Africa, as well as its independent and non-competitive position, enable it to effectively broker and coordinate mutually beneficial cooperation among various parties. It is hoped that wider cooperation will lead to treatment developments in a more cost-effective manner and with less risk and in less time, especially with regard to phase III clinical trials which are becoming increasingly expensive. Therefore, EDCTP continues to forge close working relationships with like-minded international funders, the pharmaceutical industry, and Product Development Partnerships. For example, in many EDCTP funded projects Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) have been and are important partners in co-funding, sponsoring or coordinating clinical research projects. By the end of 2011, PDPs were involved in 19 EDCTP funded projects and had contributed or committed approximately €39M towards these projects.
For more information, please contact G.O. van de Klashorst, EDCTP Communications Officer at telephone nr. +31(0)703440885