ABSTRACT
Biopharmaceutical innovation has had a profound health and economic impact globally. Developed countries have traditionally been the source of most innovations as well as the destination for the resulting economic and health benefits. As a result, most prior research on this sector has focused on developed countries. This paper seeks to fill the gap in research on emerging markets by analyzing factors that influence innovative activity in the indigenous biopharmaceutical sectors of China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Using qualitative research methodologies, this paper a) shows how biopharmaceutical innovation is taking place within the entrepreneurial sectors of these emerging markets, b) identifies common challenges that indigenous entrepreneurs face, c) highlights the key role played by the state, and d) reveals that the transition to innovation by companies in the emerging markets is characterized by increased global integration. It suggests that biopharmaceutical innovators in emerging markets are capitalizing on opportunities to participate in the drug development value chain and thus developing capabilities and relationships for competing globally both with and against established companies headquartered in developed countries.
Subject(s)
Biopharmaceutics/organization & administration , Developing Countries , Drug Industry/organization & administration , Biopharmaceutics/economics , Biopharmaceutics/legislation & jurisprudence , Biopharmaceutics/trends , Brazil , China , Commerce , Diffusion of Innovation , Drug Industry/economics , Drug Industry/legislation & jurisprudence , Drug Industry/trends , Financing, Organized , Government Programs , Health Workforce/statistics & numerical data , India , Intellectual Property , International Cooperation , Legislation, Drug , Marketing , Research/economics , Research/organization & administration , South Africa , Technology, Pharmaceutical/economics , Technology, Pharmaceutical/legislation & jurisprudence , Technology, Pharmaceutical/organization & administration , Technology, Pharmaceutical/trendsABSTRACT
Although neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) threaten the health of those living in the developing world, innovation directed toward addressing NTDs is comparatively meager. Health biotechnology firms in rapidly growing economies in the global South are developing and selling vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for these diseases to local markets. In this paper we identify a pipeline of sixty-two NTD products from seventy-eight "Southern" companies. We also propose creation of a Global Health Accelerator-a new nonprofit organization whose mission would be to support and help grow this Southern source of affordable innovation for NTDs.
Subject(s)
Biotechnology , Commerce/economics , Communicable Disease Control/economics , Neglected Diseases/prevention & control , Communicable Disease Control/trends , Global Health , Humans , Organizational Objectives , Planning TechniquesABSTRACT
Despite a challenging business environment, entrepreneurial health biotech companies in South Africa are finding ways to succeed.
Subject(s)
Biotechnology/economics , Biodiversity , Drug Industry/economics , Health Care Sector , Health Policy , South AfricaABSTRACT
India and China have made major progress toward establishing research- and innovation-based health biotechnology sectors. Local health needs, including diseases that predominantly affect the poor, have driven much of this success. We argue that emerging domestic firms can play an important role as reliable and high-quality suppliers of existing products and as innovators for global health needs. Indeed, these firms' participation may make existing global health approaches more sustainable. However, global health stakeholders, including international donors and the Indian and Chinese governments, will need to fashion incentives for these companies to retain a strategic focus on the global poor.
