Answering this question is complicated by an unfortunate history of public-private co-operation in this area that makes drugs firms especially cautious.

ECONOMIST: Vaccines against bioterrorism

Thus, the eventual answer will involve some sort of public-private co-operation, perhaps also involving charitable institutions, as is starting to happen in the provision of new drugs for the poor (see article).

ECONOMIST: Vaccines against bioterrorism

These kind of projects represent a process of natural co-operation between the private and public sectors.

FORBES: Bill Clinton Fails the Green Jobs Test

Here, the question is whether the private sector should be forced or merely cajoled into co-operation.

ECONOMIST: When lenders should be losers