As part of the ‘Evénement économique 2017’ that took place on November 9, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG), the Department of Security and Economy (DSE) and the Office for the Promotion of Industries and Technologies (OPI) awarded the Innovation Prize 2017 to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
[Français]

The prize was awarded in recognition of DNDi’s innovative and collaborative model, as well as the progress DNDi has made in medical innovation for neglected patients. Since its creation in 2003, DNDi has already developed and implemented seven treatments against malaria, sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and paediatric HIV. DNDi’s portfolio also includes 16 new chemical entities, some of which could be future new medicines to treat neglected diseases and change the lives of patients and healthcare workers.

“We are very honoured to receive this Innovation Prize here in Geneva, where it all began for DNDi almost 15 years ago,” said Dr Bernard Pécoul, DNDi’s Executive Director. “Innovation is essential when the mission is to develop new treatments for patients who do not represent a profitable market. We had to be innovative to bring together public and private partners into our collaborative model. We will have to continue to be innovative to meet our objectives: developing oral, safe, and effective treatments that are affordable and adapted to field conditions, which are sometimes challenging, in countries where health systems remain fragile. Since innovation is not possible in isolation, we are happy to share this Prize with all of our partners and donors, in Switzerland and around the world”.

Watch an interview with Dr Bernard Pécoul about the Prize (in French)

To support DNDi’s work: www.dndi.org/donate or contact Caroline Gaere: cgaere@dndi.org

For media: media@dndi.org

Photo credits: G. Maillot/point-of-views.ch