U.K., Gates target malaria with infectious disease fund

The U.K. government partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the five-year, L1 billion ($1.5 billion) Ross Fund, a global health fund to fight infectious diseases. The announcement came as part of the U.K. government's ongoing spending review.

The fund includes L305 million ($462.4 million) earmarked for programs to fight malaria and other infectious diseases. Of the L305 million, L115 million ($174.3 million) goes to developing new drugs, diagnostics and insecticides that combat disease resistance from malaria, tuberculosis and other infections; L100 million ($151.6 million) to R&D of other new products for infectious disease; and L90 million ($136.4 million) to a fund specifically aimed at eradicating malaria. ...