The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) participated in several sessions of the ASTMH 2009 , including a joint symposium with sanofi-aventis on pharmacovigilance of new anti-malarials in the field, a satelllite symposium on ASMQ, the anti-malarial Fixed-Dose Combination of Artesunate-Mefloquine, as well as several oral presentations and posters.
Symposia
Thursday, November 19, 2009 (7:00am—8:00am)
Title: The ASMQ Fixed-Dose Combination to treat Malaria
From Blueprint to Use in the Field
1 year after the launch in Brazil
Chair: Nick White (Mahidol University, Thailand; Oxford University, UK)
Speakers: 
Jean-René Kiechel (DNDi, Switzerland): “The ASMQ Fixed-Dose Combination” Isabela Ribeiro (DNDi, Switzerland): “Effect of the Artesunate Mefloquine Fixed-Dose Combination in the malaria transmission in Amazon basin communities” Frank Smithuis (Medical Action Myanmar): “Treatment of malaria in Myanmar”
Friday, November 20, 2009 (1:30pm—3:15pm)
Title: Pharmacovigilance of new antimalarials in the field: challenges and
opportunities (joint symposium with sanofi-aventis)
Chair: Wilfred Mbacham (University of Yaoundé, Cameroon)
Co-chair: Rachida Soulaymani (National Pharmacovigilance Center, Rabat, Morocco)
Speakers: Rachida Soulaymani (National Pharmacovigilance Center, Rabat, Morocco): “Pharmacovigilance systems in Africa: North-Africa vs sub-Saharan Africa” Francois Bompart (Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France): “The artesunate-amodiaquine fixed-dose combination field monitoring program: Objectives, methods, and first results from Liberia and Senegal” Wilfred Mbacham (University of Yaoundé, Cameroon): “Post Licensure Monitoring and Evaluation of Antimalaria Drug Effectiveness and Safety”
Booth
DNDi’s booth is #503. Please visit our team there to find out more information about DNDi’s activities.
Oral Presentations
Thursday, November 19, 2009 (1:30pm—3.15pm)
Session: Malaria – Drug Development
Speaker: Bernhards Ogutu (Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya): “Safety, efficacy, tolerability and first population pharmacokinetic study on fixed-dose artesunate/amodiaquine combination versus combined loose drugs for uncomplicated malaria in Kenyan adults”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 (10:15am—12:00pm)
Session: Kinetoplastidia II: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
Speakers: Isabela Ribeiro (DNDi) on behalf of Maria Terezinha Bahia (Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Brazil): “Combination of Benznidazole and Nifurtimox plus Posaconazole enhances activity against Trypanosoma cruzi in experimental Chagas disease” Michael O. Harhay (University of Pennsylvania, USA): “Calculating drug needs and costs for treating visceral leishmaniasis using local patient anthropometric data from Brazil, East Africa and Indian subcontinent” Stephen Wring (Scynexis, USA): “SCYX-6759, an Orally Bioavailable Oxaborole 6-carboxamide, Achieves Therapeutically Relevant Exposure in Brain and CSF Leading to 100% Cures in a Mouse Model of CNS-stage Human African Trypanosomiasis” Martine Keenan (Epichem, Australia; DNDi Chagas Disease Consortium): “Novel Compounds for the Treatment of Chagas Disease”
Saturday, November 21, 2009 (1:30pm—3:15pm)
Session: Rummaging Through Pharma’s Attic: Taking Advantage of Industry’s Unused Assets to Generate New Products for Infectious Diseases of the Developing World
Speaker: Robert Don (DNDi, Switzerland): “DNDi’s Model and Patent Pools”
Poster Presentations
Thursday, November 19, 2009 (12:00pm—1:30pm)
1. “In Vitro Pharmacodynamics and Mechanism of Action Studies of Oxaborole
6-Carboxamides: A New Class of Compounds for the Treatment of African
Trypanosomiasis”, by Bakela Nare (Scynexis, USA)
2. “Artemisinin combination therapies: policy and market surveys in
Burundi & Sierra Leone”, by John Amuasi, DNDi consultant
Saturday, November 21, 2009 (12:00am—1:30pm)
1. “Lead Optimization of Novel Boron-Containing Drug Candidates for
the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis”, by Bob Jacobs (Scynexis, USA)
2. “Cost-effectiveness analysis of combination therapies for visceral leishmaniasis
on the Indian subcontinent”, by Filip Meheus (Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium)
3. “A new pediatric tablet strength of benznidazole for the treatment of Chagas
disease”, by Isabela Ribeiro (DNDi, Switzerland)
