Hardly any medicines are being developed for a number of diseases that occur almost exclusively in poor countries. Whilst medicines are being developed for diseases that affect the global population, these are usually too expensive for poor countries, as product development is (re)financed through sales at monopoly prices. For years, there has been discussion about how product development in this area can be promoted in a sustainable manner, and to what extent market mechanisms should be supplemented or even replaced. Upon closer examination and scrutiny of individual positions, a highly complex situation usually emerges, involving local, national and global stakeholder groups and a multitude of intertwined causes and effects. The report provides a comprehensive overview of various initiatives by public, non-profit and private actors in research and product development, as well as policy options for promoting engagement. In examining the resulting dimensions, the report takes into account the practical relevance and scope of individual policy instruments, as well as opportunities for knowledge transfer and capacity building in the countries of the Global South. For several years now, German policymakers have signalled a willingness to become more actively involved. The report provides a substantial information base for exploring various options for strengthening product development for poverty-related diseases and better aligning the medical-technical innovation system with these very issues.