McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network and University of Toronto, 101 College Street Suite 406, Toronto ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2010 Dec 13;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S9. doi: 10.1186/1472-698X-10-S1-S9.
Biopiracy - the use of a people's long-established medical knowledge without acknowledgement or compensation - has been a disturbing historical reality and exacerbates the global rich-poor divide. Bioprospecting, however, describes the commercialization of indigenous medicines in a manner acceptable to the local populace. Challenges facing bioprospectors seeking to develop traditional medicines in a quality-controlled manner include a lack of skilled labor and high-tech infrastructure, adapting Northern R&D protocols to Southern settings, keeping products affordable for the local population, and managing the threat of biopiracy. The Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) has employed bioprospecting to develop new health treatments for conditions such as diabetes and burns. Because of its integration of Western science and Malagasy cultural traditions, IMRA may provide a useful example for African and other organizations interested in bioprospecting.
IMRA's approach to drug development and commercialization was adapted from the outset to Malagasy culture and Southern economic landscapes. It achieved a balance between employing Northern R&D practices and following local cultural norms through four guiding principles. First, IMRA's researchers understood and respected local practices, and sought to use rather than resist them. Second, IMRA engaged the local community early in the drug development process, and ensured that local people had a stake in its success. Third, IMRA actively collaborated with local and international partners to increase its credibility and research capacity. Fourth, IMRA obtained foreign research funds targeting the "diseases of civilization" to cross-fund the development of drugs for conditions that affect the Malagasy population. These principles are illustrated in the development of IMRA products like Madeglucyl, a treatment for diabetes management that was developed from a traditional remedy.
By combining local and international research interests, IMRA has been able to keep its treatments affordable for the Malagasy population. Our analysis of IMRA's history, strategy, and challenges suggests that other developing world institutions seeking to use bioprospecting to address issues of local access to medicines would be well-advised to treat traditional medical knowledge with respect and humility, share its benefits with the local community, and pursue strategic partnerships.
生物剽窃——在未经承认或补偿的情况下利用一个民族长期确立的医学知识——是一个令人不安的历史现实，加剧了全球贫富差距。然而，生物勘探描述了以当地民众可接受的方式使本土药物商业化的过程。以质量控制的方式开发传统药物的生物勘探者面临的挑战包括缺乏熟练劳动力和高科技基础设施、使北方研发方案适应南方环境、使产品对当地居民负担得起以及应对生物剽窃的威胁。马达加斯加应用研究学会（IMRA）已经利用生物勘探来开发治疗糖尿病和烧伤等疾病的新疗法。由于其融合了西方科学和马达加斯加文化传统，IMRA 可能为有兴趣进行生物勘探的非洲和其他组织提供一个有用的范例。
IMRA 的药物开发和商业化方法从一开始就适应了马达加斯加文化和南方经济格局。它通过四项指导原则，在采用北方研发实践和遵循当地文化规范之间取得了平衡。首先，IMRA 的研究人员了解并尊重当地的做法，并试图利用而不是抵制这些做法。其次，IMRA 在药物开发过程的早期就与当地社区接触，并确保当地人对其成功有一定的利益关系。第三，IMRA 积极与当地和国际合作伙伴合作，以提高其信誉和研究能力。第四，IMRA 获得了针对“文明病”的外国研究资金，以交叉资助针对影响马达加斯加人口的疾病的药物开发。这些原则在 IMRA 产品的开发中得到了体现，例如 Madeglucyl，这是一种用于糖尿病管理的药物，是从传统疗法中开发出来的。
通过结合当地和国际研究兴趣，IMRA 能够使治疗方法对马达加斯加人负担得起。我们对 IMRA 的历史、战略和挑战的分析表明，其他发展中国家机构如果希望利用生物勘探来解决当地获得药物的问题，最好以尊重和谦逊的态度对待传统医学知识，与当地社区分享其利益，并寻求战略伙伴关系。
