Browsing by Author "Hanekom, Nicola"

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    Selecting incentive interventions to encourage pharmaceutical research and development for neglected diseases: A decision-support framework
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Hanekom, Nicola; Bam, Louzanne; De Kock, Imke; Vandaele, Nico Johan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Neglected diseases are diseases for which adequate drug treatment is lacking or not commonly available to sufferers of the disease. The diseases mostly affect people living in developing countries with more than one billion people globally affected by some of the ‘most neglected diseases’, known as neglected tropical diseases. Central to understanding the phenomenon of neglected diseases is the concept of market attractiveness, which refers to perceived market potential. As the multinational drug industry is highly competitive, it delivers drugs based on economic market forces. From the perspective of both public- and private investors, the market for neglected diseases is not sufficiently attractive to attain the necessary resources to effectively address such diseases. Noteworthy effort has been devoted to encouraging pharmaceutical organizations, non-profit organizations, and governments to engage in the research and development (R&D) for neglected diseases. Incentive interventions are a method used to promote these research efforts. Incentives aim to mitigate the challenges of completing drug R&D, by providing some kind of benefit or reward. A significant number of incentive interventions has been proposed and/or implemented for improving neglected disease research. Given the number of incentive strategies and types that exist, difficulty occurs in selecting an incentive intervention that is appropriate for encouraging R&D for the specific pharmaceutical landscape, the stakeholders that are involved, and the health care system context. This research proposes a decision-support framework that intends to assist any governmental, private or public entity aiming to encourage investment in the R&D of drugs for a disease that is currently experiencing neglect, with the selection of an appropriate incentive intervention. This is done by investigating literature on the goals and outcomes of health care systems, completing a pharmaceutical R&D market analysis, systematically reviewing literature on diseases that are perceived as being neglected and or attractive to pharmaceutical organizations, and investigating existing incentive interventions. The decision-support framework outcome provides a shortlisted set of recommended solutions (incentivising interventions) based on (i) the current pharmaceutical research and development system being addressed; (ii) the needs, abilities, and limitations of the enabling organization or body; the (iii) needs and objectives of the innovating organizations and the end-users (both the consumers and the procurers of drugs); and (iv) the abilities of the incentivizing interventions to address the priority improvement areas of the scenario under investigation. Through a verification and validation process involving subject matter experts and the application of three retrospective case studies, the decision-support framework is deemed a comprehensive and valuable contribution to assist in the selection of an appropriate set of incentive-based interventions. The framework thus contributes towards effective and efficient resource allocation in the context of the global neglected diseases R&D sphere.
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    Towards a more efficient and effective pipeline of tuberculosis medication : the value of identifying trends and influencing factors
    (South African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2018) Hanekom, Nicola; Bam, Louzanne; De Kock, Imke H.
    Tuberculosis poses a significant risk to global health with estimated 1.7 million deaths worldwide in 2016. One key issue in tuberculosis management relates to the drug pipeline, with drug development not keeping pace with the rate at which the disease expands and changes. Identifying and addressing factors that inhibit tuberculosis research and development is essential. Research to identify trends in the drug pipeline and evaluate the relations between these trends and other influencing factors will strengthen the existing body of knowledge, enabling improved decision-making on investment in drug research and development, and structuring incentives to encourage investment.