KNOWLEDGE PORTAL
on innovation and access to medicines

“OpenBiome accelerates bold discoveries in microbiome science to improve health for all. We are an independent nonprofit that catalyzes cutting edge research, advances treatment, and expands scientific capacity to unlock the full potential of the microbiome. OpenBiome is building a world where the full potential of the microbiome radically improves health for all” (OpenBiome, n.d.).

“Perlara launched in 2014 as the first biotech Public Benefit Corporation (bioPBC). Our commitment to sustainability, open science and business and patient equity has guided our approach from day one... Our mission [is] to accelerate the discovery of cures for rare genetic diseases and uncover underlying mechanisms that enable the development of treatments that work across a range of diseases and individuals. We developed the PerlArk™ Drug Discovery Platform, based on creating patient avatars using simple animals that share genetic similarity with humans, allowing us to screen massive numbers of disease models and drug candidates quickly and at low cost” (Perlara, n.d.).

“At PATH, we are a global team of innovators working to accelerate health equity so all people and communities can thrive. We advise and partner with public institutions, businesses, grassroots groups, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges…Our team includes scientists, health professionals, business leaders, engineers, advocates, and experts from dozens of other specialties. We work in more than 70 countries to transform bold ideas into sustainable solutions that improve health and well-being for all” (PATH, n.d.).

READDI is a “global nonprofit initiative that brings together leaders from industry, government, philanthropic organizations and academic research institutions…READDI is retooling the drug discovery and development process to rapidly develop new broad-spectrum antiviral drug solutions for the future. A unique public-private partnership accelerated by a global access model, READDI has a goal of developing multiple “on the shelf” clinical assets so that we are prepared for the next global health pandemic. Through our open access model, READDI will accelerate the pace of antiviral discovery globally for three viral families with the most pandemic potential — coronaviruses, flaviviruses and alphaviruses” (READDI, n.d.).

Founded in 2014, Roivant's mission is to “improve the delivery of healthcare to patients by treating every inefficiency as an opportunity. Roivant develops transformative medicines faster by building technologies and developing talent in creative ways, leveraging the Roivant platform to launch Vants – nimble and focused biopharmaceutical and health technology companies…Roivant has built 20+ portfolio companies (Vants). [Their] Vants have conducted 10 Phase 3 trials (9 of which have been successful), and launched VTAMA®, (tapinarof) cream, 1%, for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults” (Roivant, n.d.).

Ruta-N is the “innovation and business center of Medellín; Our purpose is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitants of the city through Science, Technology and innovation” (Ruta-N, n.d.).

DNDi and Ruta N entered into a strategic alliance in 2014 and announced the development of a topical treatment for Leishmaniasis (topical Amphotericin B). This collaboration involved local pharmaceutical partners and scientific and academic institutions such as the Study and Control Programme for Tropical Diseases (PECET) (DNDi, 2014).

“Ophirex, a public benefit corporation focused on global health, is committed to addressing the medical needs associated with snakebite and other life-threatening bites and stings, as well as diseases and conditions with related mechanisms of illness and injury. We are focused on developing an affordable, accessible, oral treatment for snakebite envenoming” (Ophirex, n.d.).

“Prize4Life is a results-oriented 501c3 nonprofit founded by a group of Harvard Business School students, including an ALS patient, to accelerate ALS/MND research by offering substantial prizes to scientists who solve the most critical scientific problems preventing the discovery of an effective ALS/MND treatment” (Idealist, n.d.).

This initiative was selected based on its inclusion in the report “RE:ROUTE, A map of the alternative biomedical R&D landscape”, (Kiddell-Monroe, Greenberg, and Basey 2016).

“Qameleon Therapeutics is a spin-off of the Netherlands Cancer Institute established in 2015 to accelerate finding drug combinations that overcome initial or acquired resistance to targeted therapy in oncology. At Qameleon we have access to 10+ years of expertise in synthetic lethal screens. We develop custom shRNA libraries for in house screens that are optimized for the mechanism of action. shRNA data in combination with additional pre clinical data can be used to justify combination therapy trials” (Qameleon Therapeutics, n.d.).

"ReAct is one of the first international independent networks to articulate the complex nature of antibiotic resistance and its drivers. ReAct was initiated with the goal to be a global catalyst, advocating and stimulating for global engagement on antibiotic resistance by collaborating with a broad range of organisations, individuals and stakeholders." "ReAct is set up as a network of regional offices called nodes. Each node is hosted by an institution such as a civil society organization or a university that assists with most legal, economic and HR issues." ReAct's regional nodes are: ReAct Africa, ReAct Asia Pacific, ReAct Europe, and ReAct Latin America.

“RSV is a 501(c)(3) public charity that applies private sector tactics and techniques to advancing global health equity. We identify innovations in science and technology that challenge and advance the norms of biopharma and health care delivery…We are pioneering solutions to unmet needs and to ensuring global equitable access – and this is reflected in every aspect of our programmatic work. We partner with innovative companies, institutes and organizations to promote systemic, sustained improvements to the way health care is accessed and delivered. Through our unique approach we aim to generate substantial social returns and reinvest financial returns to drive change” (RSV, n.d.).

SCYNEXIS is an SME “bringing a ground-breaking class of drugs to the battle [against pernicious fungal diseases] by developing innovative products that have the strength, safety and versatility to defeat even the most insidious fungal diseases. We are committed to positively impacting the lives of patients suffering from fungal infections — from the most common to the difficult-to-treat and deadliest” (SCYNEXIS, n.d.). Their work is focused on life-threatening infections and community infections, and their novel antifungal Ibrexafungerp was approved in 2021 (ibid).