In the DRC, the treatment of NTDs over the past 17 years has been supported by DNDi in a broad partnership with the government and other donors. We urge governments, public and private funders around the world to continue to support research and development efforts to meet the need for access to treatment for patients.

People affected by neglected diseases must have access to treatments. DNDi helps to ensure that new medical products are available and affordable for all.

With the necessary will and commitment, we know hepatitis C can be eliminated. Our local and global partnerships, notably with DNDi, are ensuring we have the medical tools and strategies in place to succeed.

We hope our research partnership with DNDi can confirm earlier positive results of a new treatment combination that could help improve the lives of people with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Latin America.

Because PKDL is not fatal it has largely been ignored by public health efforts, but our research with DNDi shows that early treatment of PKDL patients will be a critical element of any leishmaniasis public health and elimination strategy.

Partnerships are essential to the success of clinical research advances in the treatment of NTDs. The fexinidazole treatment for sleeping sickness is a perfect example of how collaboration can fuel the discovery of drugs that are effective, easy to use and with few side effects.

Fexinidazole is a true game-changer for sleeping sickness. If acoziborole, a single-dose treatment, is shown to be safe and effective, we’re hopeful it would provide national programmes an even better tool to help achieve global elimination goals.