Global Health Priority BoxProactive Pandemic Preparedness

The coronavirus pandemic
outbreak of 2019 highlighted
the critical
importance of preparedness for current and future public health threats
(https://www.mmv.org/mmv-open/global-health-priority-box/about-global-health-priority-box). While the main attention for the past few years has been on COVID-19
research, this focus has reduced global resources on research in other
areas, including malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Such
a shift in focus puts at risk the hard-earned progress in global health
achieved over the past two decades (https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/10-global-health-issues-to-track-in-2021). To address the urgent need for new drugs to combat drug-resistant
malaria, emerging zoonotic diseases, and vector control, Medicines
for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Innovative Vector Control Consortium
(IVCC) assembled a collection of 240 compounds and, in August 2022,
launched the Global Health Priority Box (GHPB). This collection of
compounds has confirmed activity against emerging pathogens or vectors
and is available free of charge. This valuable tool enables researchers
worldwide to build on each other’s work and save precious time
and resources by providing a starting point for the further development
of treatments and insecticides. Furthermore, this open access box
aligns with two of the many priorities outlined by the World Health
Organization (WHO) (https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/10-global-health-issues-to-track-in-2021).