Press Releases
DNDi Press Release
Eisai and DNDi Enter into a Collaboration and License Agreement to Develop a New Drug for Chagas Disease
Washington, October 1, 2009 — Eisai Co., Ltd. (“Eisai”) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a non-profit independent foundation, announced today that they have signed a collaboration and license agreement for the clinical development of a promising new drug for the treatment of Chagas disease, a fatal infectious disease that threatens 100 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ravuconazole, an anti-fungal drug discovered and developed by Eisai, has been shown in in vitro and in vivo to have potent activity against the pathogen responsible for Chagas disease. Under the terms of the agreement, DNDi shall retain sole responsibility for the clinical development to assess the safety and efficacy of E1224, which is a pro-drug of ravuconazole, in patients with Chagas disease within endemic countries. Eisai shall provide DNDi with its scientific expertise in clinical development as well as supply the drug for the clinical studies. Eisai shall also have the option to become the industrial partner with DNDi to manufacture, register and make available E1224 at an affordable price to the public sector in endemic countries.
MSF Press Release
Neglected Diseases in the Americas: Member States of PAHO Commit to Diagnose and Treat Neglected Diseases at Primary Healthcare Centers.
During the PAHO 49th Directing Council, MSF calls for governments to strengthen mechanisms of procurement for existing medicines so that access to treatment becomes a reality
Washington, October 1, 2009 — The 49th Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Directing Council is being held in Washington DC this week. The international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) welcomes the approved resolution for neglected diseases (CD49/9) entitled “Elimination of neglected diseases and other poverty-related infections”.
“It is clear that there are many diseases that have been silenced and ignored in the Americas, resulting in millions of people suffering and dying of a range of preventable and treatable infectious diseases, including Chagas disease. So it is a positive step forward that Member States have recognized the clear link between poverty and neglected diseases, and that given the current financial crisis, as well as the impact of the influenza A in the region, it is even more important to maintain neglected diseases as a priority.” said Gemma Ortiz Genovese, Senior Advocacy Officer for Neglected Diseases, MSF.
DNDi Press Release
Forgotten and With Few Treatment Options, Chagas Debilitates and Kills
100 years since Chagas disease was discovered, DNDi launches an international campaign “Wake Up. Time to Treat Chagas Disease!” with a call for better medicines and treatment of patients
Rio de Janeiro, July 9, 2009 — One hundred years after the discovery of Chagas disease, 100 million people remain at risk and the disease continues to debilitate and kill the poorest of the poor. Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) today, alongside Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), called on governments, scientific community, private sector and civil society to increase their commitment and support for research and development for better health tools (diagnostics and treatments) and improved access.
MSF Press Release
The Fight Against Chagas: Time to Focus on Patients
MSF calls on endemic countries to diagnose and treat Chagas patients; demands more research and development of new medicines, rapid diagnostic and cure tests
Madrid, July 9, 2009 — The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) today launched a campaign to raise awareness of the parasitic disease Chagas. MSF is calling on countries where the disease is endemic to stop neglecting the disease by moving beyond prevention activities to increased diagnosis and treatment.
MSF/DNDi Media Alert
Medical, Scientific Experts Gather in Los Angeles to Shed Light on Deadly Latin American Disease Now Increasingly Found in the U.S.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative will host a series of events on Chagas, a little-known killer disease threatening millions of people in Latin America and increasingly diagnosed in Los Angeles and cities throughout the U.S. Los Angeles County, home to the nation’s only Chagas treatment center and a large at-risk population, is the US focal point for Chagas disease.
- Public evening panel discussion to raise awareness of Chagas
- Scientific/medical symposium to highlight urgent need for better diagnosis and treatment
MSF Press Release
Chagas Disease Not Addressed by World Health Assembly
At 100th Anniversary of Discovery, Disease Is Neglected Once Again; Diagnosis and Treatment Scale-up Needed
Barcelona/Geneva, New York, May, 19, 2009 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has cut short its annual health ministers meeting because of influenza A (H1N1) preparations and has postponed discussions about Chagas disease. Much needed progress in diagnosing and treating people for this neglected disease must not be further delayed, warned the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today.
MSF/DNDi Press Release
Call for Scale-up of R&D for Neglected Diseases
Doctors Without Borders and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative Call For Greater Governmental Leadership to Foster Medical Innovation for Millions Suffering from Neglected Diseases
Geneva/New York, February 23, 2009 — The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) called today for more sustainable funding for research and development (R&D) to tackle deadly, yet neglected diseases, such as sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, that affect millions of people around the world. MSF also announced its renewed operational and financial support to DNDi, a non-profit R&D organization co-founded by MSF and five public and private research institutes in 2003, in response to the urgent need for new treatments and the lack of adequate public leadership in stimulating R&D and medical innovation for neglected diseases.
MSF Statement
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC): Philanthropy & the Global Health Agenda
Statement by Sophie Delaunay Executive Director, MSF-USA
This annual Ministerial review focusing on philanthropy and the Global Health Agenda clearly shows recognition of the urgency to address global health challenges. However, this initiative cannot replace the critical need for greater government leadership to stimulate medical innovation for neglected diseases affecting millions in the poorest corners of the world.
