On 13 February, the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline promised to reduce prices of its patented medicines in 50 poor countries to no more than 25% of the cost in developed countries. Additionally, GSK CEO Andrew Witty committed to reinvesting 20% of profits made from sales in these poor countries toward developing infrastructure to supply health care to the underserved.

To propel the development and production of new treatments for neglected tropical diseases, Witty also proposed a voluntary ‘patent pool’. Through this pool, GSK would share “relevant small molecule compounds or processes patents” for such diseases with outside researchers. Richard Barker, director general of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, has been quoted saying GSK’s initiative will lead people to discuss “how much further industry can and should go” to improve public health worldwide. What do you think drug companies should do to support global public health?

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