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AFRICA
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CVJAFRICA • Volume 26, No 2, H3Africa Supplement, March/April 2015
Strategic investments in non-communicable diseases
(NCD) research in Africa: the GSK Africa NCD Open Lab
Matthew D Hall, Ann M Dufton, Roy M Katso, Sally A Gatsi, Pauline M Williams, Michael E Strange
Abstract
In March 2014, GSK announced a number of new strategic
investments in Africa. One of these included investment of
up to 25 million Pounds Sterling (£25 million) to create the
world’s first R&D Open Lab to increase understanding of
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa. The vision
is to create a new global R&D effort with GSK working in
partnership with major funders, academic centres and govern-
ments to share expertise and resources to conduct high-quality
research. The Africa NCD Open Lab will see GSK scientists
collaborate with scientific research centres across Africa. An
independent advisory board of leading scientists and clini-
cians will provide input to develop the strategy and selection
of NCD research projects within a dynamic and networked
open-innovation environment. It is hoped that these research
projects will inform prevention and treatment strategies in
the future and will enable researchers across academia and
industry to discover and develop new medicines to address the
specific needs of African patients.
Keywords:
non-communicable diseases, Africa, open innovation,
collaboration, training, capacity building
Cardiovasc J Afr
2015;
26
: S15–S17
www.cvja.co.zaDOI:
10.5830/CVJA-2015-042
In 2012, the World Health Assembly endorsed an important
new health goal (the ‘25 by 25’ goal) to reduce avoidable
mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by
2025.
1
Furthermore, the 66th World Health Assembly, United
Nations (UN) member states adopted a resolution on NCDs
that reinforces commitments made in 2011’s UN Declaration on
NCDs and signals consensus on the three pillars of the global
NCD architecture – action, accountability and coordination.
2
This alignment of the UN’s World Health Assembly, the World
Health Organisation, and other entities are recognised as positive
steps for combating NCDs.
NCDs account for 63% of all deaths globally, with 80%
of the global burden occurring in low- and middle-income
countries.
3
While NCDs are currently the leading cause of
death in all regions except Africa, current projections indicate
that by 2020, the largest increases in NCD deaths will occur
in Africa. Furthermore, by 2030, the number of deaths from
NCDs in Africa is projected to exceed the combined deaths from
communicable, nutritional, maternal and perinatal deaths as the
most common causes of death, if current trends continue.
3
Currently, NCDs are increasing in Africa. Mbanya and
colleagues found that approximately 12 million people were
living with diabetes in Africa in 2010; this is projected to increase
to approximately 24 million by 2030.
4
Other contributors to the
increase in diabetes may also include anti-retroviral treatment
(ART) for HIV/AIDS. ART has been shown to increase the risk
of cardiometabolic dysregulation; this dysregulation is associated
with obesity and increased insulin resistance.
5
Therefore increase
in incidences of NCDs will result from the aforementioned
factors, including the increased lifespan of people living with
infectious diseases.
GSK understands that there is much more to be done to
appreciate and address the burden of NCDs, with a particular
focus on Africa. As a science-led global healthcare company,
GSK is committed to harnessing its scientific expertise,
partnerships and global reach to develop and make products
for people who need them, wherever they live. Research and
development areas include HIV, vaccines, and diseases of the
developing world. GSK has pioneered a number of innovative
new models to help stimulate innovation: working in partnership
with others, and opening up access to its expertise, facilities and
intellectual property.
6
For example, the Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation was
established by GSK in 2010 and offers a unique approach to
discovering novel, safe, appropriate and affordable medicines
for diseases of the developing world with industry, academia,
non-governmental organisations and governments working
together. The Tres Cantos Open Lab is the world’s first open
laboratory for diseases of the developing world and provides an
opportunity for scientists from around the world to partner with
GSK scientists, using GSK’s facilities and expertise, to test their
own ideas and design appropriate projects at the very early stages
of drug discovery.
7
Building on this and other initiatives, GSK’s chief executive
officer, Sir Andrew Witty, announced new strategic investments
in sub-Saharan Africa at the 5th European Union–Africa
Business Forum in Brussels in March 2014. These investments
also included the Africa NCD Open Lab, which was designed
to address pressing health needs and contribute to long-term
business growth. Over the next five years, GSK will make
targeted investments of up to £130 million in Africa, which
will contribute to the development of home-grown capabilities
and skills in Africa.
8
The long-term goal is to equip Africa to
discover, develop and produce the medicines required for African
patients.
GSK, Medicines Research Centre, Stevenage,
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Matthew D Hall, PhD,
matthew.d.hall@gsk.comAnn M Dufton, MSc
Roy M Katso, PhD
Pauline M Williams, MD
GSK, Brentford, Middlesex, United Kingdom
Sally A Gatsi, PharmD
Michael E Strange, PhD