GlaxoSmithKline's innovative partnership for global health

I'm generally a harsh critic of Big Pharma- those healthcare behemoths wringing profit from pills, some that save lives and some that treat conditions invented after the drug, all the while obfuscating the true costs of innovation, drug development and marketing. And research suggests that I'm not alone in my skepticism: As a whole the public trusts Big Pharma about as much as Big Oil, both of whom rank only an onion skin above Big Tobacco. But recent actions by GlaxoSmithKline's malaria division have not received enough positive coverage in the mainstream media.

Malaria is a major scourge in many areas of the developing world, and to help fight it, GSK announced a new strategy last week called "open innovation." This approach includes:

* Releasing into the public domain of over 2 million molecular compounds that have yielded some 13,500 compounds with the potential to fight the malaria parasite. In an industry that makes its profits from proprietary intellectual property, this is a huge: They are giving away the data, research, and the rights to use these chemicals. The company reports that this is the first time this has ever been done in the pharmaceutical industry.

* An "open labs" initiative providing laboratory resources, expertise, and $8 million in seed money to fund innovative research by independent researchers.

* Collaborations with academic and non-profit institutions to create a "knowledge pool" for cures to neglected tropical diseases and tuberculosis. Partnering institutions include BIO Ventures for Global Health, the Emory Institute for Drug Discovery, and Ithemba Pharmaceuticals in South Africa. Management of the knowledge pool will be in the hands of BIO Ventures for Global Health, and independent third party.

* An affordability pledge for its most promising malaria vaccine candidate. While the vaccine is something of a global health holy grail, there are technical challenges to development, and pricing challenges, since those most in need are the least able to afford it.

Not only are these steps great to see from an altruistic perspective, they are also attempting to spur innovation and drug development for neglected diseases through the creation of partnerships, and the free exchange of ideas and knowledge. The free part is important because they are giving away knowledge that has value. The neglected part is laudable because these are conditions that won't make you a fortune, even if you discover a cure, since they afflict the poorest parts of the world. And the acknowledgment that ethical vaccine pricing is an essential element of sustainable disease control is a refreshing approach for Big Pharma to take.