USAID funding cuts jeopardise breakthrough drugs and research

Writing for Devex, Catherine Davison speaks with Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, about how USAID funding cuts are jeopardising the development of breakthrough drugs and research critical to global health.

The article delves into the impact of recent USAID funding freezes, which have disrupted research on diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. These cuts have brought clinical trials and the rollout of new drugs to an abrupt halt, threatening progress in the fight against some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.

The article presents the views of Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, who highlights the potential long-term consequences, particularly on early-stage research, which is often the basis for future breakthroughs. Claudia warns of a "ripple effect" that could extend well beyond the current freeze, jeopardising not only ongoing projects but also the future pipeline of innovative treatments and vaccines.

Claudia also emphasises the critical role USAID has played in co-financing and supporting public-private partnerships, which have helped de-risk investments in areas with little market incentive, such as infectious diseases affecting low-income populations. With the withdrawal of USAID funding, she is concerned about a "void" in crucial disease research, especially since private sector investment in infectious diseases has been decreasing, as highlighted in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index.

The article also touches on the broader implications of the funding cuts, including the decline of research infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. Claudia points out that USAID has historically played a key role in building local capacity for clinical trials and drug rollouts, from physical infrastructure to ethical guidelines. The loss of this support could deter companies from investing in these regions, further exacerbating health inequities.

“Investments that go into diseases that could potentially affect the world at large, they matter. They will be impacting the U.S. and the world more broadly,” the article quotes Claudia. “If you don't have a healthy population, you cannot have a healthy economy.”