references
Filarial diseases*
• DNDi’s focus is on improving treatments for patients with onchocerciasis (river bindness) and lymphatic filariasis (LF, elephantiasis), and those co-infected with Loiasis (Loa loa filariasis) • Over 37 million people infected by onchocerciasis; 169 million at risk • Over 120 million people infected by LF; 1.4 million people at risk • About 13 million people infected by Loa loa filariasis; 30 million people at risk • Cause life-long disabilities such as blindness, severe itching and dermatitis (onchocerciasis), and swollen limbs and genitals (LF); have a terrible social and economic impact • Co-infection of onchocerciasis or LF with Loa loa cannot be easily treated with current drugs due to risk of major adverse effects, such as encephalopathy
*Helminth parasitic worm infections
Paediatric HIV
• 2.6 million children (<15 years) living with HIV and 220,000 new infections in children in 2014 • 410 deaths in children every day, mostly in Africa • 150,000 AIDS-related deaths among children in 2014 • Only 31% of HIV-positive children received antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2014 • Without treatment, half the children infected during pregnancy, delivery, or breast-feeding die before their second birthday • Opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis are common Current: The most effective treatment for babies and young children with HIV currently available is unpalatable (42% alcohol), difficult to administer, and has undesirable interactions with drugs for tuberculosis, the most common co-infection with HIV, in addition to being heavy to transport and requiring refrigeration Our work: DNDi and partners are currently developing two child-friendly 4-in-1 antiretroviral formulations, and a booster treatment to add when treating children with HIV and tuberculosis Our aim: Increase access to recently available solid and existing dispersible formulations, and develop and deliver safe, effective, all-in-one first-line ARTs for young children (≤3 years) with HIV, including HIV/TB co-infected children
• R&D Portfolio
Mycetoma
• As a highly neglected disease, no surveillance system exists, so epidemiological data is lacking • Two forms of mycetoma: bacterial (actinomycetoma), mainly in Central and South America, with a 90% cure rate and fungal (eumycetoma), mainly in Africa, with a 35% cure rate • Progresses silently (causing little pain) into a chronic infection of the skin tissues which can result in amputation, even after treatment, and is sometimes fatal • Children and young adults particularly at risk • Disfigurement and disability cause stigma and social discrimination
Hepatitis C*
• 150 million people suffering from hepatitis C virus (HCV), with six million co-infected with HIV • 85% of patients living in low- and middle-income countries • Transmitted through exchange of fluids (mostly contaminated blood) • 80% of patients develop chronic infection and within the first two decades of infection, 5-20% progress to cirrhosis and 5% to liver cancer
*HCV
Current: Current treatments are ivermectin, albendazole, and diethylcarbamazine used in mass drug administrations (MDAs), which require repeated annual or biannual treatment for up to 15 years since they only target the juvenile worm (microfilariae) Our work: DNDi is developing a macrofilaricide drug (kills adult worms) Our aim: A new, oral, safe, short-course macrofilaricidal drug for adults and children used in individual patient treatment and to help the elimination effort in MDA programmes, and ideally also in patients with Loa loa co-infection
Current: Neither safe, effective, nor affordable, with serious side effects, the two existing antifungal treatments for eumycetoma have a duration of 12 months, very often also requiring destructive surgery Our work: DNDi and partners are testing an oral anti-fungal drug, currently the only potential new treatment for eumycetoma Our aim: A more effective, safe, affordable, shorter-term treatment for eumycetoma appropriate for rural settings