The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund announced today a total investment of approximately JPY 2 billion (USD 12.7 million) in eight projects focused on developing new diagnostics and drugs for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and malaria.

JPY 670 Million (USD 4.2 Million) Investment in a Critical Diagnostic Tool for Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis, an NTD caused by Leishmania parasites transmitted through sandfly bites, affects an estimated 700,000 to 1 million people annually. To combat this disease, the GHIT Fund has invested JPY 670 million (USD 4.2 million) in a project led by The Ohio State University in collaboration with Nagasaki University and icddr,b, an international health research organization based in Bangladesh. This initiative aims to refine formulations of the leishmanin antigen, conduct pre-clinical safety and efficacy studies, and prepare for regulatory submissions for clinical trials. Strengthening diagnostic tools is a crucial step toward eliminating visceral leishmaniasis and improving global health outcomes.

Investments in Malaria Research

GHIT Fund is also investing in two critical malaria projects:

• JPY 680 million (USD 4.2 million) for the development of a malaria therapeutic drug through a partnership between Eisai Co., Ltd. and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).

• JPY 585 million (USD 3.7 million) for the development of a preventive drug for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in partnership with PATH, GSK Global Health, Eisai, and Ehime University.

Additional Investments in Infectious Disease Research

Beyond these core initiatives, GHIT Fund has committed approximately JPY 83 million (USD 0.5 million) across five screening projects for various infectious diseases:

1. Malaria: MMV and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.

2. Dengue & Zika: Eisai and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

3. Lassa Fever: MMV and RIKEN

4. Rift Valley Fever: MMV and RIKEN

5. Ebola & Marburg: MMV and RIKEN

These screening projects are designed to identify promising drug candidates that can be further developed into effective treatments.

GHIT Fund’s Impact and Commitment

As of January 30, 2025, GHIT Fund has invested in 37 active projects, comprising 15 discovery projects, 14 preclinical projects, and eight clinical trials. Since its inception in 2013, GHIT Fund has invested a total of JPY 35.8 billion (USD 226 million) to advance global health initiatives.

The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership formed in collaboration with the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). By mobilizing resources from Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes, GHIT Fund aims to develop innovative drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases