“The European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged to work together to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other poverty-related diseases that together affect more than one billion people worldwide,” RTT News reports (6/10). “They hope to speed up the development of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics,” EurActiv.com writes (6/10). “The agreement, signed in Paris on Monday by foundation co-chair Bill Gates and European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, creates a new strategic partnership for research in the area,” according to RTT. “In addition to accelerating the development of much-needed drugs, vaccines and diagnostics, the two organizations will also seek to improve affordable and sustainable pathways to ensure that these products quickly reach those in greatest need,” the news service notes (6/10).