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The workshop was well attended with representation from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Bayer, Emergent Biosolutions, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Medicines Patent Pool, Merck, Quintiles, the Sabin Vaccine Institute and Sanofi, as well as from EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations). It was co-chaired by Dr Line Matthiessen (Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission) and Professor Simon Croft (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine).

At the workshop participants heard a review of EDCTP’s achievements to date and what it could offer in a partnership with industry, including African co-ownership of projects; clinical trials networks that are compliant with good clinical practice (GCP); continuing capacity building in personnel, infrastructure, ethics review and regulatory affairs; and leverage of resources with other partners.

Following the introductory presentations, a far ranging and frank discussion took place; much of it centring on participants’ unanimously held view that expanded EDCTP-industry collaboration would have mutual benefits. Other discussions were on how to address some of the challenges that increased collaboration would generate – in particular, issues around intellectual property rights, data sharing and the difficulties in bringing effective drugs to market.