The Japan-based Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT) has announced a five-year, $20 million commitment from London-based Wellcome in support of programs to expand the development of drugs and combat infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s vulnerable and underserved populations.

The funding will enable GHIT—an international public-private partnership between the government of Japan, pharmaceutical and health diagnostics companies, the United Nations Development Programme, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Wellcome—to leverage synergies within Japan’s pharmaceutical industry and accelerate the global introduction of breakthrough drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and other neglected tropical and infectious diseases. Since 2013, GHIT has invested $204 million in research and new drug development.

“Infectious diseases are one of the greatest health threats facing the world, with people in low-and-middle-income countries continuing to suffer the most from diseases such as TB, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases,” said Wellcome director of infectious disease Gordon Dougan. “The GHIT Fund addresses this enduring gap by investing in product R&D and by leveraging scientific expertise and product development capabilities in Japan.”

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