Target product profiles: opportunities and implications for health innovation development–a scoping review

Background Target Product Profiles (TPPs) are documents that support strategic planning in medical innovation development by indicating key product attributes required to meet specific healthcare needs. This study reviews the TPP development process, common themes, and stakeholder involvement to understand how they can be optimised to support health innovation development. Methods A scoping review using a systematic search was conducted and reported following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. An initial database search was conducted in August 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. TPPs published on the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) were accessed in June 2024. TPPs published on the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and PATH were accessed in March 2026. Only articles published from 2013 onward that reported the TPPs and their development methods were included. Results Eighty-five articles were selected for the review, containing a total of 120 TPPs. Most of the TPPs were for medical devices and diagnostic tools (n = 51). Healthcare professionals, academic researchers, and government representatives were the most involved external stakeholders during the TPP development process, while patients, funders, and implementers were the least. TPPs emphasized different product attributes depending on the type of technology. Limitations of the TPPs reported in the original studies can be categorized into three groups: limitations of application, lack of scientific evidence and knowledge, and limitations of study design. Conclusion This review highlights the diverse applications and development focus of TPPs across different health technologies. Strengthening the development of TPPs and addressing their limitations could enhance the impact of TPPs in guiding evidence-based innovation. Lay summary Target Product Profiles (TPPs) are planning tools that help guide the development of new medical technologies by clearly describing what a successful product should achieve. In this study, we reviewed how TPPs are developed, what they usually focus on, and who are involved in creating them to understand how they can better support health innovation. We reviewed published studies and publicly available TPPs from major health organisations, including the World Health Organization, covering work published since 2013. In total, we identified 120 TPPs across 85 studies. Most TPPs focused on medical devices and diagnostic tests. Healthcare professionals, researchers, and government representatives were commonly involved in developing TPPs, while patients, funders, and those responsible for implementation were less often included. Overall, our findings provide directions for improving the TTP development process and strengthening its role in guiding impactful health innovation.