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European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a European–African research partnership that supports clinical research and the development of medical interventions to combat infectious diseases affecting sub-Saharan Africa. The current programme, Global Health EDCTP3, operates as a joint undertaking under Horizon Europe, established by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085.

The partnership brings together the European Union, European and African countries participating through the EDCTP Association, and other public and private partners. Its activities focus on accelerating the development of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other health technologies while strengthening clinical research capacity and health systems in Africa.

Since its creation in 2003, EDCTP has been implemented through successive programmes funded under the European Union’s research framework programmes:

  • EDCTP1 (2003–2015)
  • EDCTP2 (2014–2026)
  • Global Health EDCTP3 (2021–2031)

The partnership aims to reduce the health and socio-economic burden of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa while strengthening epidemic preparedness and global health security.

History

EDCTP1 (2003–2015)

The EDCTP initiative was launched in 2003 by the European Union and European partner countries to support clinical trials for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The EDCTP Association managed the programme with a budget of €400 million.

The programme was part of the EU’s Programme for Action: Accelerated Action on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in the Context of Poverty Reduction, adopted in 2001.

EDCTP1 aimed to improve coordination of European research efforts and to strengthen collaboration between European and African research institutions.

The highlights of this programme are:

  • Supported 102 clinical trials for treatment drugs, vaccines, microbicides, and diagnostics targeting HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.
  • Provided professional training to 514 African scientists and medical doctors, contributing to capacity building.
  • Established four African Regional Networks of Excellence for clinical research.
  • Strengthened ethics review capacity and regulatory authorities in many African countries.
  • Main funder of the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR), which became a WHO Primary Clinical Trials Registry.

EDCTP2 (2014–2026)

The second programme, EDCTP2, expanded the scope of the partnership beyond the three original diseases to include neglected infectious diseases and emerging infections.

It was implemented by the EDCTP Association under the EU’s Horizon 2020 framework programme and mobilised €1.36 billion in combined investments from the EU and participating countries.

EDCTP2 funded numerous clinical trials and capacity-building initiatives and contributed to the development of several new treatments and vaccines.

The highlights of this programme are:

  • Strengthened European-African collaboration on clinical research around a common strategic research agenda.
  • Expanded focus beyond HIV, TB, and malaria to include neglected infectious diseases and emerging infections.
  • Played a key role in global health responses to pandemics and epidemics (e.g. Ebola and COVID-19).

Global Health EDCTP3 (2021–2031)

The current programme, Global Health EDCTP3, was launched in 2021 as the third phase of the partnership.

It is implemented through a joint undertaking between the European Union and the EDCTP Association under the Horizon Europe research programme.

Global Health EDCTP3 aims to:

  • reduce the socio-economic burden of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa by promoting the development and uptake of new or improved health technologies.
  • increase health security in sub-Saharan Africa and globally by strengthening research capacities for preparedness and response to control infectious diseases.

The programme has an expected total budget of around €1.6 billion, combining EU funding and contributions from participating countries and partners.

See also

References

External links