How GlaxoSmithKline chief has changed the agenda for big pharma and NTDs

in a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Witty pledged to expand his company's pool of patented compounds that others can use for free to try to develop medicines for neglected tropical diseases -

February 2009 saw Andrew Witty, GlaxoSmithKline's chief executive, propose price cuts for drugs in the poorest countries and a promise to reinvest in the local economy 20% of any profits GSK made there.  He further announced that GSK would form a patent pool for neglected tropical diseases, such as malaria, sleeping sickness and river blindness.  Witty said he hoped other companies would join in. One biotech did, but none of the big pharmaceutical companies have shown any interest. Nor did scientists queue up to investigate the compounds in the pool.

Dr Bernard Pécoul, executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, said he was not surprised. "They consulted us. We said the patent pool isn't enough. You also need to share the knowledge you have [of these compounds]," he said. GSK took note. The patent pool has become a "knowledge pool". And a fund of $8m has been set up to support scientists with ideas from around the world who would like to go to GSK's tropical disease research labs in Tres Cantos, Spain, and explore that knowledge.

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January 2010, in a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Witty pledged to expand his company's pool of patented compounds that others can use for free to try to develop medicines for neglected tropical diseases -- and to hand control to a nonprofit group.

Glaxo will give up to 60 outside scientists from universities and foundations access to a lab facility it calls the first-ever Open Lab, for developing new medicines for diseases plaguing poor countries. Witty also said Glaxo will give scientists around the globe free access to data on 13,500 drug compounds that show some effectiveness against malaria, one of the most devastating tropical diseases.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Witty discussed his goals, how the current strategies and programs have come about, and more.

In the months before he took over as CEO, Witty held nine meetings, in the U.S., the UK and other countries, with groups of about 40 people from every segment of the company -- scientists, salespeople, factory workers and staff in pharmaceuticals, biologicals and consumer products. He asked each to name three things the company should stop and three things it should protect or build upon.

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