Private Sector Mobilizes Innovation for Health Equity and Resilience at B20 Global Health Breakout Press Releases

The private sector mobilizes innovation for health equity and resilience through the B20 Global Health Breakout

November 19, 2025

— Private sector leaders, philanthropists and global health experts gathered today on the B20 Global Health Breakout conference, held on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, to focus on a brand new wave of innovations transforming the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

Hosted by B20 South Africa in partnership with the Global Fund’s Private Sector District, the event highlighted how daring leadership, collaboration and catalytic investments are rapidly accelerating access to cutting-edge health technologies and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of health systems world wide.

Opening the discussion, Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands emphasized the importance of this moment for global health. “The breakthroughs we are seeing in the private sector are not just scientific advances – they are solutions that can be delivered at scale. It is the combination of innovation and real-world implementation that is transforming the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. As we move forward, these partnerships will be critical to saving more lives and building stronger, more resilient health systems for all.”

This momentum was reflected throughout the event as corporations and partners shared information on developments which might be redefining what is feasible for the worldwide disease response.

Several initiatives aim to stop recent HIV infections using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tools. These include:

• detailed how they secured access to the world’s first long-acting injectable (LAI) HIV prevention drug, cabotegravir, now supplied to 18 countries, mainly in Africa. This builds on the reach of dolutegravir within the treatment of HIV, which currently provides care to over 90% of individuals living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries through strong delivery systems.
• and the Global Fund described how strategic collaboration enables the rapid introduction of lenacapavir – a biannual, long-acting injectable drug used to stop HIV – available in the identical yr in low- and middle-income countries and for the primary time in high-income countries, setting a brand new standard for equitable access for individuals with HIV. The first deliveries have already arrived in Zambia and Eswatini, marking the start of a wider rollout across many sub-Saharan African countries.

Some corporations develop multiple components in parallel:

• noted progress on recent tools to handle the challenges of HIV, TB and malaria, including once-monthly oral PrEP, simplified once-weekly oral HIV treatment, recent anti-TB antibiotics and a brand new class of antimalarials – all aimed toward overcoming persistent barriers to implementation, combating growing drug resistance and improving treatment outcomes for people affected by HIV, TB and malaria.
• committed £1 billion to global health research and development, specializing in diseases equivalent to HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This builds on the event and deployment of the world’s first malaria vaccine by GSK and its partners. Looking ahead, GSK has a portfolio of potential treatments and vaccines for tuberculosis.

With colliding crises threatening progress on malaria, recent innovations are critically needed. The event discussed among the innovations which might be already being scaled to succeed in more people, in addition to some which might be within the pipeline:

• presented spatial repellents – an progressive approach to vector control that protects people by creating mosquito-free zones, especially in places where traditional tools were less effective.

The event discussed how incorporating multi-pathogen capabilities into disease-specific interventions, in addition to stronger digital systems, also strengthen our first line of defense against emerging health threats:

• has strengthened the role of diagnostics in filling gaps in patient care and driving efficiency across the healthcare ecosystem, from integrating multi-disease management strategies and digital tools to workforce development and sample transport mechanisms.
• detailed the importance of her work on scaling digital health tools that support frontline staff to attain higher health outcomes.

There was a robust emphasis on regional resilience and native self-reliance throughout the event:

• highlighted the important thing role that domestic and regional production plays in strengthening Africa’s health security – from reducing dependence on external supply chains to making sure timely access to essential anti-malaria tools.
• It was highlighted that scaling ITNs with pyrethroid and chlorfenapyr is revitalizing the fight against malaria, with recent data showing that since 2019, dual lively ingredient networks have prevented 40 million cases. Additionally, it highlighted progress towards local production of PermaNet dual ITNs in Nigeria – a first-of-its-kind direct investment that strengthens regional supply chains and supports sustainable malaria vector control. This work highlighted how constructing Africa’s manufacturing capability is vital to advancing health equity, economic growth and long-term resilience. Based on 25 years of operation, ITNs – chargeable for 72% of cases prevented – remain the cornerstone of malaria control.

The breakthrough also discussed the necessity for partnerships in translating scientific breakthroughs into measurable impact on the population scale. Goodbye Malaria presented its community-centric model, and WITS BioHub explained how increased representation of African health data can drive advances in artificial intelligence, precision medicine and inclusive economic growth.

“It is a shared value in action,” he said. “We don’t just save lives – we build systems, create jobs, and advance resilience and sustainability.”

The B20 breakthrough confirmed the sector’s key role in driving innovation, health equity and sustainability, including the importance of making an enabling environment where recent technologies can reach the communities that need them most. Participants noted that the Global Fund plays a key role in supporting the scaling of innovation within the private sector, translating research and development into scalable delivery, and strengthening health systems to enhance equity of access. Through co-financing, market shaping and results-based financing, it ensures that recent technologies not only exist, but are also inexpensive, accessible and effectively delivered to those most in need.

As the world faces converging challenges – from climate shocks to conflict and limited financing – the upcoming replenishment of the Global Fund represents a critical opportunity to guard hard-earned progress and speed up the deployment of next-generation tools.

A robust complement will enable the Global Fund and its partners to deliver long-term HIV prevention, advanced tuberculosis diagnostics and recent malaria vector control technologies, strengthening networks of laboratories, communities and digital health systems to make sure equitable access. It will proceed to catalyze joint investment by governments, industry and philanthropy and make sure that scientific breakthroughs translate into real-world conservation and survival.

As the world finds itself at a critical juncture, leaders stressed that daring investment and collective resolve can bring the tip of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria within sight and help construct a more resilient, progressive, safer and equitable future for all.