Ensuring innovation and equitable access for COVID-19 treatments and other pandemics

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) invites you to join a one-hour webinar on the urgent need for innovation of and equitable access to COVID-19 therapeutics.

In the face of global vaccine inequity, the need for treatments at all stages of COVID-19 is more pronounced than ever. Yet research and development of therapeutics has been relatively neglected in the global response to COVID-19 – and the few treatment innovations that do exist have been principally available in high-income countries. There is some recent good news on the therapeutic front, with the possible approval in the coming weeks and months of several new antiviral treatments. But without urgent course correction, the very same challenges that have stymied equitable access to vaccines may also hinder availability, affordability, and equitable access to these treatments. How can we best address both the promise and pitfalls of the past year and half when it comes to treatments for COVID-19? How can these lessons help shape the pandemic preparedness and response architecture that is emerging?

Moderator: Dr Boghuma Kabisen Titanji, Infectious Disease Fellow, Emory University School of Medicine and Academic Editor, PLOS Global Public Health

Speakers include:

• Dr Ayoade Alakija, Co-Chair, African Union Vaccine Delivery Alliance
• Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Chair, DNDi Board of Directors
• Ms Loyce Pace, MPH, Director, Office of Global Affairs, US Department of Health and Human Services
• Dr Mariângela Simão, Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization