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Home > Diseases

Cryptococcal meningitis

Making treatment available and simpler to use for a deadly disease

Home > Diseases

Cryptococcal meningitis

Making treatment available and simpler to use for a deadly disease

  • Overview
  • Facts
  • Projects & achievements

We are building partnerships to make treatment more widely available and developing an easier to use treatment. Together with partners, we are mobilising support for life-saving treatments to reach more patients in African countries.

Cryptococcal meningitis is a devastating fungal infection. It is caused by the fungus cryptococcus neoformans that is often found in soil and bird droppings. Most people are likely to breathe in this microscopic fungus at some point in their lives but never get sick from it. However, people with advanced HIV are particularly susceptible to it because they have weakened immune systems. The fungus can invade the lining of the brain and other organs, which quickly leads to death unless treated.

Live-saving treatment exists but is scarce. For example, the key medicine flucytosine is not registered or available in many countries in Africa that have a high burden of disease. Where flucytosine is available, it is challenging to use. Another key medicine, liposomal amphotericin B, is priced out of reach of many countries’ health systems.

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people die from cryptococcal meningitis every year
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deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa
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of affected people could survive if they receive the right treatment combinations
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‘Caring for a person with cryptococcal meningitis is frightening. The treatment is complicated, as are the side effects, and the patient’s condition can change in an instant. Having effective, safe treatments and being able to use them early, is paramount to giving people the best chance of a good outcome.’

Kyla Comins, Doctor and Research Medical Officer, Cape Town, South Africa
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What we have achieved

We have joined a broad network of partner organizations, the Cryptococcal Meningitis Action Group, advocating for better access to life-saving treatment combinations for people with cryptococcal meningitis. Ending cryptococcal meningitis deaths by 2030 is its overarching goal.

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What we are doing for people living with cryptococcal meningitis

Our aim is to facilitate the scale-up of key medicines in selected, trailblazer African low- and middle-income countries through a comprehensive action plan. We are also working to develop a better formulation of the existing medicines.

Read more in our Annual Report
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Translational research

Sustained release 5FC

An improved formulation of a key medicine. We are developing a formulation of an HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis medicine that can be taken orally or through a nasogastric tube. The medicine only needs to be taken twice a day rather than four times a day.

Registration & access

Immediate-release flucytosine & liposomal amphotericin B access

Address the supply and demand barriers limiting access to immediate-release flucytosine and liposomal amphotericin B for cryptococcal meningitis in low- and middle-income countries.

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Cryptococcal meningitis news & resources

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Press releases
Publications
Scientific articles
Statements
Videos
Press releases
15 Apr 2025

New treatment for cryptococcal meningitis enters Phase II trial as global HIV funding cuts threaten to cause a massive increase in advanced HIV disease

Statements
30 Oct 2024

DNDi interventions at the 5th Meeting of the G20 Health Working Group and G20 Health Ministerial Meeting, 30-31 October 2024

Scientific articles
18 Sep 2024

Bioavailability of a novel sustained-release pellet formulation of 5-flucytosine in healthy-fed participants for use in patients with cryptococcal meningitis

Clinical and Translational Science
Scientific articles
15 Aug 2024

Paving the way for affordable and equitable liposomal amphotericin B access worldwide

The Lancet Global Health
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Making medical history for neglected patients

We develop urgently needed treatments for neglected patients and ensure they’re affordable, available, and adapted to the communities who need them

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Chagas disease

Causes heart and vital organ damage, after people are bitten by blood-sucking bugs

We delivered the first-ever treatment for children; now we’re searching for new drug candidates and working to boost access to care

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Cryptococcal meningitis

Without treatment, deadly for thousands of people with advanced HIV

We’re working to improve access to life-saving treatments and developing an easier-to-use formulation

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Cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leaves disfiguring, life-long scars that lead to severe social stigma

We’re working to develop safer, shorter treatments for this disabling disease

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Dengue

Rapidly spreading climate-sensitive disease with no specific treatment

We’re building a global partnership with dengue-endemic countries to develop a first treatment

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Filaria: river blindness

Lead to unbearable itching, disfiguring skin lesions, and even blindness

We’re working to develop a safe, effective, and affordable drug for the prevention and treatment of this debilitating disease

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Millions are left without treatment even though effective drugs exist

We’ve delivered a treatment as simple, safe, and effective as the best drugs available today – at a fraction of the cost 

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Mycetoma

Often ends in amputation​, after people get infected from stepping on a thorn

We conducted the world’s first trial for an alternative to current treatments, which are toxic and difficult to administer

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Without treatment, half of children die before their second birthday

We’ve developed a strawberry-flavoured treatment to meet the needs of children long neglected by the global HIV response

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The COVID-19 pandemic intensified global health inequalities

We’re bringing together partners and accelerating research to prepare for future viral pandemics in low-resource settings

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Sleeping sickness

Transmitted by the bite of a tsetse fly and causes severe neurological disorders

We delivered a revolutionary new drug to replace toxic treatments, and have ongoing trials to eliminate this disease

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Visceral leishmaniasis

Is one of the world’s biggest parasitic killers, spread by the bites of sandflies

We’re working to develop a new generation of treatments to replace drugs that are painful, ineffective, and cause side effects

Chagas disease

Cryptococcal meningitis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis

Dengue

Filaria: river blindness

Hepatitis C

Mycetoma

Paediatric HIV

Pandemic Preparedness

Sleeping sickness

Visceral leishmaniasis

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