TAHSSL: A “One-Stop-Shop” to Accelerate Research, Development and Commercialization

Animal Health Products for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

TAHSSL

Livestock farming is central to the livelihoods of 1.3 billion people on earth including 800 million smallholder farmers. However, livestock productivity is hampered by livestock diseases with frequent cycles of devastation. As African countries transition into middle income economies with higher populations and life expectancy, the demand for effective livestock disease control tools will increase in tandem with that of milk and meat.

Research and development (R&D) of animal health products (AHPs) targeting low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) is disjointed, poorly funded, and viewed as a “high-risk” investment by global and regional animal health companies. These companies focus their attention on profitable markets and see little comparative advantage in LMIC markets. However, they can be attracted to increase their investment through provision of competitive R&D facilities and appropriate market and policy information.

Challenges of Research and Development of AHPs in LMICs

• R&D is not optimized to solve market challenges unique to small scale livestock producers
• Critical challenge models for testing potential AHPs for LMIC neglected diseases are poorly developed
• Animal health companies and research institutes in Europe and North America are either unable or cannot afford to conduct experimental infection studies with exotic pathogens
• Product development is lengthy and expensive for the expected return on investment
• Companies lack information on registration requirements and procedures for LMICs
• LMIC market information is poorly developed and deflates expected returns

Our Solution

To contribute to de-risking and accelerating animal health product R&D for LMICs, ILRI has established the Transforming Animal Health Solutions and Services (TAHSSL) platform.

The purpose of the platform is to be a “one-stop-shop” that will test new or improved climate-friendly animal health products by offering quality laboratory, clinical and market development services in a manner that will not only respond to LMIC small-scale producer needs but also attract investment in animal health products for market sustainability.

Partnership Approach

TAHSSL will deliver its mandate through project-specific partnerships with other LMIC stakeholders in animal health product research, development and commercialization.

These include organizations such as GALVmed, ClinGlobal, African Union-PANVAC, LMIC regulatory authorities, private manufacturing and distribution companies, as well as national and international research institutes.

Core funding for TAHSSL is provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while project-specific funding will include grants from international development funders and investments from the private sector.

What We Will Do

TAHSSL Value Proposition

Targeted de-risking of specific R&D activities, combined with access to clinical research facilities and provision of registration and market information, can stimulate investment with positive return on investment (ROI) for animal health companies and other stakeholders.

Animal health companies, international funding organizations, universities, and research institutions will benefit from TAHSSL’s services, including:

• High quality clinical research facilities in endemic countries
• Well researched and standardized experimental animal models
• High quality market and regulatory information
• One-stop R&D expertise connected to LMIC markets
• Accelerated high quality testing of proof of principle and proof of concept studies