Biotechs find new ways to tackle 'neglected' diseases

Eric Easom of Palo Alto's Anacor.

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Smaller is better when it comes to tackling drug development for some of the world’s most serious diseases.

Yet even as a cadre of small Bay Area companies take the lead in discovering and developing treatments and diagnostic tools for so-called “neglected diseases,” industry leaders say more are needed. That could be a challenge given the rising cost of drug development, funding pressures on nonprofit supporters and the difficulty of delivering these drugs in markets with some of the world’s poorest people.

But according to a new report from BIO Ventures for Global Health and theBiotechnology Industry Organization   , the small number of biotech companies focused on neglected diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and sleeping sickness have become more committed and creative about how to fund that work.