Lancet Global Health publishes study demonstrating Medicines for Malaria Venture’s unmatched global health impact and value

17 Feb 2026
  • A new economic analysis in The Lancet Global Health describes how investments in MMV delivered 13 times their value in health benefits between 2000 and 2023.
  • Each dollar invested yielded a 52% return per year, every year, demonstrating the long-term impact of MMV’s work.
  • MMV’s product development partnership model is an effective and efficient way for donors to fund global health innovation, delivering measurable results.

Geneva, Switzerland, 17 February 2026 – A landmark study published in The Lancet Global Health confirms that Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a product development partnership (PDP)1 that unites the funds and expertise of the public and private sectors, delivers exceptional global health impact and value for money.

The study, Measuring the impact of global research and development investment in product development partnerships: a case study on return on investment in antimalarial drug development, was published following rigorous analysis and peer review. It found that for every $1 invested in MMV between 2000 and 2023, society gained $13 in monetized health benefits. This reflects healthier lives and fewer deaths.

The study was conducted by experts from leading academic institutions Imperial College London and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in collaboration with consulting firm Cambridge Economic Policy Associates, MMV, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), one of MMV’s funders. 

Dr Lesong Conteh, Associate Professorial Research Fellow at LSE Health and the study’s corresponding author, said: “This analysis demonstrates that funds invested in MMV are working extraordinarily hard. Every dollar produces outsized and sustained benefits for malaria-affected regions. In a constrained funding environment, identifying investments that consistently deliver is critical.” This evidence also underscores the vital role that investing in the PDP model plays in generating global health returns beyond any single organization.

Exceptional return on investment and life-saving impact

This first-of-its-kind study evaluates the return on investment in research and development (R&D) delivered by MMV. Using a robust data-driven approach and building on real-world evidence, it estimates the reach and health impact of MMV-supported malaria medicines across 36 countries. The analysis uses a conservative approach by factoring in the costs of both successful and failed drug development and applying cautious assumptions when estimating deaths averted and healthy years of life saved.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Martin Fitchet, Chief Executive Officer of MMV, said: “The study highlights the powerful impact that innovation, partnerships and sustained investment can achieve. This kind of rigorous analysis is vital in helping us hold ourselves to account for delivering transformative impact for the communities most at risk of malaria. We are deeply grateful to our donors and partners, without whom MMV’s achievements would not be possible.” 

The study also shows that each dollar spent on MMV’s R&D results in a return of 52% per year, every year. The PDP approach is supported by the United Kingdom government, the Gates Foundation and other donors2 because it lowers risk, improves success rates and delivers benefits for investors, partners and communities. 

Supporting health outcomes and unlocking sustainable investment
MMV improves health outcomes in malaria-endemic countries by tackling critical gaps such as drug-resistant strains, and developing and delivering treatments for at-risk populations as well as transmission-blocking therapies. These innovations reduce disease burden and free resources for other priorities.    At the same time, MMV’s pooled funding model de-risks investment and accelerates innovation by bringing partners together to collaborate and share their expertise.   

Mr Gareth Jenkins, Managing Director of Malaria No More UK, said: “This publication provides timely new evidence of the huge value Medicines for Malaria Venture brings, as a leading product development partnership, by fostering innovations to fight malaria. With efforts to end malaria facing a perfect storm of challenges, continued investment in R&D is as important as ever. 

“I hope decision makers will draw on these findings and prioritize PDPs, such as MMV, in their plans to overcome these mounting threats to progress against a disease that can and must be ended in our lifetimes.”

Join MMV in eradicating malaria
Despite major progress, malaria remains a deadly disease with 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024. The situation is compounded by the spectre of antimalarial drug resistance advancing in Africa, as identified in the recent WHO World malaria report 2025.   

“We are proud of the lives saved and progress we’ve contributed to,” said Dr Fitchet. “But we cannot be complacent. In this changing world, now more than ever we need to hold ourselves to the highest of standards to deliver for the communities that need us.”

MMV calls on governments, industry leaders, and philanthropists to invest in R&D to save more lives and eliminate malaria.

For press enquiries, please contact:
Doreen Yomoah 
Communications Manager
Medicines for Malaria Venture
Mobile: +41 79 238 60 74
Email: yomoahd [at] mmv [dot] org 

 

References

  1. PDPs are non-profit organizations that bridge the gap between public health needs and market-driven incentives by coordinating and financing the research, development and delivery of new health products for diseases of poverty.
     
  2. As of 2026, MMV is funded by Action for Women’s Health, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT); Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (GH EDCTP3 JU) co-funded by the European Union; the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space through KfW; the Gates Foundation; the Global Health Innovation Technology Fund (GHIT); the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA);  Open Philanthropy; the RIGHT Foundation; the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI); UK Foreign, Development & Commonwealth Office (FCDO) and Unitaid.