Neglected disease funders
By Impact Global Health 29 January 2025
Global funding for neglected disease basic research and product development totalled $4,170m in 2023, a drop of less than 1%, or just under 2% once we account for a rise in survey participation. Following on from 2022’s much larger fall, this slight decline left funding nearly $650m below its 2018 peak and 3% below its average over the previous decade.
While overall funding was relatively consistent, there were big changes in who provided it. Public sector funding fell, again, dropping by another $103m (-4%) to its lowest level since 2015. Private sector funding fell too, dropping by $52m (-8%) though after two years of growth, leaving it roughly in line with its recent average. The substantial drops in both public and private sector funding were mostly offset by a big rise in philanthropic (mostly Gates Foundation) funding, which rebounded by $125m (16%) to $929m – its highest total since 2008 and the second highest total ever recorded.
Figure 3. Total R&D funding by sector 2014-2023
