Panel Discussion on Lessons from Medical Research and Development Collaborations in the South
On 8 February 2023, the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organisations in Geneva organised a Panel Discussion on Lessons from Medical Research and Development (R&D) Collaborations in the South at the UN Palais Des Nations. The event was held in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH), Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Third World Network (TWN). It was attended by about 30 participants, mostly diplomats from developing countries.
The session featured three panellists, namely Director General of Health of Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Ms Pascale Boulet from DNDi and Ms Sangeeta Shashikant from TWN.
The main objectives of the panel discussion were to highlight Malaysia’s leadership and experience as a developing country investing in medical R&D that prioritises affordability and public health, specifically on the development of Ravidasvir (RVD).
RVD is the first antiviral for the treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) that was developed through an innovative partnership led by Malaysia and involved several other developing countries namely Thailand and Egypt through its pharmaceutical company Pharco. RVD was developed as part of Malaysia’s effort in achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) global Hepatitis C elimination by 2030, as well as reductions in downstream financial and clinical consequences of HCV infection by 2030. Under this RVD initiative, Malaysia recently submitted to the WHO a proposal to include RVD into the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML).
The development of RVD is the epitome of South-South Cooperation which remains an integral component of Malaysia’s foreign policy. Malaysia hopes that the successful RVD development model will further encourage other fellow developing countries of the Global South to actively explore technical cooperation that meets public interest, not only in medical research, but in other fields of common concern. Malaysia continues to believe that South-South Cooperation offers a unique pathway to build back better and accelerate progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
