Publication date: Dec 01, 2025

Recent infectious disease crises (e. g. COVID-19, Ebola, mpox) show that the mainstream market-driven innovation model cannot ensure both rapid innovation and equitable global access to vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics critical for pandemic preparedness and response. Alternative models that may better address global access needs exist, but analysis of their merits is limited. We analysed the pharmaceutical innovation ‘niche’ for pandemic products and 35 alternative initiatives within it, to inductively derive a typology of three archetypal alternative models: The National Biosecurity model is well-established, proliferating since COVID-19, driven and funded primarily by the public sector, and delivering innovation for national needs. The Cosmopolitan Public Private Partnership model combines global access with innovation, but relies on voluntary participation, and must navigate tensions between public and private interests. The Open Science Collaborative Network model accelerates innovation through scientific cooperation and builds global access into early R&D stages, but remains small-scale, nascent, and requires effective coordination. Cosmopolitan and Open Science models offer significant advantages for achieving innovation with global access, but require sustained political, financial and technical support. Alternative innovation models should be institutionalised during inter-pandemic periods, when markets for pandemic products are economically unattractive, and political resistance to systemic change is easier to overcome.

Semantics

Original Article