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Review
. 2020 May;20(5):e108-e115.
doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30123-7. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Disease X: accelerating the development of medical countermeasures for the next pandemic

Shmona Simpson  1 , Michael C Kaufmann  2 , Vitaly Glozman  2 , Ajoy Chakrabarti  3
Affiliations
Review

Disease X: accelerating the development of medical countermeasures for the next pandemic

Shmona Simpson et al. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 May.

Erratum in

  • Correction to Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20: e108-15.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 Dec;20(12):e298. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30829-X. Epub 2020 Oct 16. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020. PMID: 33075283 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

WHO has listed several priority diseases with epidemic potential for which there are no, or insufficient, medical countermeasures. In response, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (with support from PricewaterhouseCoopers) coordinated subject matter experts to create a preparedness plan for Disease X. Disease X is caused by Pathogen X, an infectious agent that is not currently known to cause human disease, but an aetiologic agent of a future outbreak with epidemic or pandemic potential. We have identified crucial areas for acceleration in medical countermeasure product development and international coordination. We have also reviewed novel platforms and process improvements related to manufacturing, which could revolutionise the response to the next pandemic. Finally, we created several coordination and engagement guides. These guides range from the rational design of an intervention target product profile, to the key facets of vaccine and therapeutic development, to accelerated manufacturing and regulatory mechanisms. In this Personal View, we provide a high-level summary of the outcomes of the medical countermeasure development workstream, intended for a broad audience including academia, medical countermeasure developers, and multilateral coordinating bodies. We hope that they might find this piece useful in prioritising strategic investments and efforts to accelerate medical countermeasure development. We observed that in-depth analyses of clinical trial design, chemistry, manufacturing and control activities, and accelerated regulatory pathways are necessary for shortening the timelines for the product development of medical countermeasures. We intend to cover these topics in future publications.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Opportunities for accelerating the development of diagnostics, biologics, and small molecule therapeutics for Pathogen X—evaluation of risk and breadth Large circles indicate a high effect, medium-sized circles a medium effect, and small circles a low effect.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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