At the B20 Global Health Breakout held alongside the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, private sector leaders, philanthropists, and global health experts highlighted a surge of innovations reshaping the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Organized by B20 South Africa with the Global Fund’s Private Sector Constituency, the event emphasized how collaboration, investment, and bold leadership are enabling faster access to advanced health technologies while strengthening the resilience of health systems worldwide. Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands underscored that new private sector breakthroughs are transforming disease response through scalable, real-world solutions.
Much of the discussion focused on pioneering tools aimed at preventing HIV infections. Several companies shared significant progress in expanding access to long-acting injectable PrEP. ViiV Healthcare reported wide delivery of the first long-acting injectable HIV prevention medicine, now reaching 18 countries, mostly across Africa. Gilead Sciences and the Global Fund outlined their coordinated efforts to accelerate rollout of lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable PrEP option now introduced simultaneously in both high- and low-income countries, with first shipments already delivered to Zambia and Eswatini. Companies with broader pipelines, such as MSD and GSK, highlighted next-generation tools across HIV, TB, and malaria, including simplified oral treatments, new TB antibiotics, and advanced antimalarial agents.
Innovations in malaria control were also featured, particularly as overlapping global crises threaten recent progress. SC Johnson presented new spatial repellents that create mosquito-free zones in areas where existing tools are less effective. Discussions also emphasized the growing importance of digital tools and integrated diagnostic systems. Roche Diagnostics showcased advances in multi-disease diagnostics and digital integration that improve patient care, while Dimagi demonstrated how scaled digital health tools support frontline workers and strengthen health outcomes.
A major theme was the drive toward regional self-reliance and stronger African manufacturing. Goodbye Malaria showcased progress in establishing regional production systems to enhance Africa’s health security by reducing dependence on external supply chains. Vestergaard shared evidence that innovative dual-ingredient mosquito nets have prevented millions of malaria cases and announced plans to begin local production in Nigeria, boosting supply chain resilience and economic opportunity. These efforts reflect a wider push to build sustainable, locally grounded solutions that reinforce health equity.
Throughout the event, speakers stressed the importance of partnerships in ensuring that scientific breakthroughs translate into impact at scale. Community-driven models like those presented by Goodbye Malaria and data-driven innovations from the WITS BioHub demonstrated how shared value can fuel both health outcomes and economic growth. Participants also highlighted the Global Fund’s role in shaping markets, co-financing new technologies, and strengthening health systems to guarantee equitable access.
As global challenges intensify, leaders emphasized that the upcoming Global Fund replenishment will be critical for sustaining progress. Strong financing would allow countries to expand long-acting HIV prevention, advanced TB diagnostics, and novel malaria control technologies, while improving laboratory networks and digital systems. With continued investment and collective determination, participants affirmed that ending AIDS, TB, and malaria is within reach and that these innovations are laying the foundation for a more resilient, equitable, and secure global health future.
