Takeda Pharmaceutical, based in Osaka, Japan, is participating in WIPO Re:Search, a consortium to accelerate R&D of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases, malaria and tuberculosis. WIPO Re:Search’s aim is to advance product development through greater collaboration, while making concrete contributions to strengthen the foundations of healthcare in developing countries.

“Takeda’s participation in the consortium demonstrates our commitment to supporting better access to medicines for people around the world, including those in emerging markets and developing counties,” said Takeda Access to Medicines Director Isabel Torres. “We will continue our efforts to contribute to global health through WIPO Re:Search, together with a number of other Access to Medicines programs such as the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund.”

WIPO Re:Search was established in 2011 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the UN, in collaboration with BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, and with the active participation of pharmaceutical companies and other public sector research organizations. Through a public database managed by WIPO, members of the consortium, including the NIH, provide their intellectual property assets and resources such as compounds, expertise, know-how, etc., under royalty-free licenses. Nonprofit organizations and other research institutions will gain access to these assets for the research and development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. By sharing assets and relevant information via the database, the consortium promotes research to develop innovative treatments for patients.

Financial supporters of WIPO Re:Search’s activities come from a range of multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Takeda Pharmaceutical, plus the governments of Australia and Japan.