• DNDi-20_Logo_No-Tagline_EN_Full Colour
  • Our work
    • Diseases
      • Sleeping sickness
      • Visceral leishmaniasis
      • Cutaneous leishmaniasis
      • Chagas disease
      • Filaria: river blindness
      • Mycetoma
      • Paediatric HIV
      • Cryptococcal meningitis
      • Hepatitis C
      • Dengue
      • COVID-19
      • Antimicrobial resistance
    • Research & development
      • R&D portfolio & list of projects
      • Drug discovery
      • Translational research
      • Clinical trials
      • Registration & access
      • Treatments delivered
    • Advocacy
      • Open and collaborative R&D
      • Transparency of R&D costs
      • Pro-access policies
  • Networks & partners
    • Partnerships
      • Our partners
      • Partnering with us
    • Global networks
      • Chagas Platform
      • HAT Platform
      • HELP Helminth Elimination Platform
      • LEAP Platform
      • redeLEISH Network
    • DNDi worldwide
      • DNDi Switzerland
      • DNDi DRC
      • DNDi Eastern Africa
      • DNDi Japan
      • DNDi Latin America
      • DNDi North America
      • DNDi South Asia/India
      • DNDi South-East Asia
      • DNDi Southern Africa
  • News & resources
    • News & stories
      • News
      • Stories
      • Statements
      • Viewpoints
      • Social media
      • eNews Newsletter
    • Press
      • Press releases
      • In the media
    • Resources
      • Scientific articles
      • Our publications
      • Videos
    • Events
  • About us
    • About
      • Who we are
      • How we work
      • Our strategy
      • Our donors
      • Annual reports
    • Our people
      • Our leadership
      • Our governance
      • Contact us
    • Work with us
      • Working at DNDi
      • Job opportunities
      • Requests for proposal
  • Donate
  • DNDi-20_Logo_No-Tagline_EN_Full Colour
  • Our work
    • Diseases
      • Sleeping sickness
      • Visceral leishmaniasis
      • Cutaneous leishmaniasis
      • Chagas disease
      • Filaria: river blindness
      • Mycetoma
      • Paediatric HIV
      • Cryptococcal meningitis
      • Hepatitis C
      • Dengue
      • COVID-19
      • Antimicrobial resistance
    • Research & development
      • R&D portfolio & list of projects
      • Drug discovery
      • Translational research
      • Clinical trials
      • Registration & access
      • Treatments delivered
    • Advocacy
      • Open and collaborative R&D
      • Transparency of R&D costs
      • Pro-access policies
  • Networks & partners
    • Partnerships
      • Our partners
      • Partnering with us
    • Global networks
      • Chagas Platform
      • HAT Platform
      • HELP Helminth Elimination Platform
      • LEAP Platform
      • redeLEISH Network
    • DNDi worldwide
      • DNDi Switzerland
      • DNDi DRC
      • DNDi Eastern Africa
      • DNDi Japan
      • DNDi Latin America
      • DNDi North America
      • DNDi South Asia/India
      • DNDi South-East Asia
      • DNDi Southern Africa
  • News & resources
    • News & stories
      • News
      • Stories
      • Statements
      • Viewpoints
      • Social media
      • eNews Newsletter
    • Press
      • Press releases
      • In the media
    • Resources
      • Scientific articles
      • Our publications
      • Videos
    • Events
  • About us
    • About
      • Who we are
      • How we work
      • Our strategy
      • Our donors
      • Annual reports
    • Our people
      • Our leadership
      • Our governance
      • Contact us
    • Work with us
      • Working at DNDi
      • Job opportunities
      • Requests for proposal
  • Donate
Home > Press releases

Swiss Government firmly commits to fighting Neglected Diseases

Geneva, Switzerland — 28 Apr 2011
Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on print

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) recently granted the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) a sum of four million Swiss Francs to be disbursed over three years. This grant reaffirms SDC’s increasing role as a major supporter of development and implementation of new treatments to fight neglected diseases, which affect millions in the poorest regions of the world.

“This important multiyear grant will help us to make available new medicines for millions of children and adults suffering from neglected tropical diseases, as well as to develop new and better adapted tools to support elimination programmes”, said Dr Bernard Pécoul, Executive Director of DNDi.

While phenomenal therapeutic advances have taken place over the past half-century, neglected diseases have not been the target of innovation. More than 1 billion people are still infected with at least one of the 17 diseases listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and millions of people, mostly in low and middle-income countries, die every year.

In response to this critical global health problem, DNDi has, since its inception in 2003, directed its activities and resources to addressing diseases such as human African trypanosomiasis (or sleeping sickness) and leishmaniases – afflicting namely African populations – which are often fatal if left untreated. Many of the previously existing treatments for these diseases are at best costly or inadequate, and at worst, toxic. Major investment is urgently needed to ensure the development of a new generation of treatments – either combining existing therapies or developing new ones – as well as strategies for sustainable access in endemic countries. In order to achieve these objectives, DNDi works closely with its partners in disease-endemic countries, with the aim of developing and strengthening local capacities.

In fulfillment of DNDi’s objectives, this SDC grant represents a vital contribution to the development and implementation of three to four new treatments against NTDs, in addition to the four treatments already delivered by DNDi, by 2014.

SDC Director Martin Dahinden, reaffirming SDC support to DNDi, states: “SDC’s overall goal in health cooperation is to improve the health of the poor and vulnerable populations. To that end, we support programmes that strengthen local health systems, fight communicable diseases and contribute to improve maternal and child health. In addition to well-known communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, neglected tropical diseases affect in particular the world’s poorest people. SDC believes that DNDi’s contribution to the fight against NTDs complements its own interventions both at the bilateral and multilateral levels to reach MDG 6, the fight against communicable diseases, with a particular focus on diseases of poverty.”

For more information please contact

Violaine Dallenbach
Press & Communications Manager, DNDi
vdallenbach@dndi.org
Tel: +41 22 906 92 47 / +41 79 424 14 74

About DNDi
Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is an independent, not-for-profit drug development initiative established in 2003 by five publicly-funded research organizations – Malaysian Ministry of Health, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Indian Council of Medical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Brazil, and the Institut Pasteur – as well as an international humanitarian organization, Médecins Sans Frontières. The UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is a permanent observer. With a robust portfolio, DNDi aims to develop new, improved, and field-relevant drugs for neglected diseases, including malaria,   leishmaniases, human African trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease, which afflict the very poor in developing countries. Since 2007, DNDi has delivered four products, fixed-dose anti-malarials (ASAQ and ASMQ), the combination treatment NECT (nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy) for the advanced stage of sleeping sickness, and a combination treatment against visceral leishmaniasis in Africa.

In order to achieve its objectives of delivering six to eight new treatments and building a robust pipeline by 2014, DNDi requires an additional EUR 80 million in funding from public and private donors. To date, DNDi has secured EUR 150 million from donors such as Médecins Sans Frontières, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States of America (NIH/NIAID).

DNDi also raises awareness about the need for greater R&D for neglected diseases and strengthens existing research capacity in disease-endemic countries. For further information, please consult www.dndi.org

Funding

Read, watch, share

Loading...
Young man sitting in hospital setting
News
25 Jan 2023

It’s time medical innovation reached the 1.7 billion people affected by neglected tropical diseases: World NTD Day 2023

Film Poster Voices of Leishmaniasis: Shushi from India
Videos
25 Jan 2023

Voices of leishmaniasis: Shishu from India

Child receiving treatment
News
20 Jan 2023

DNDi’s 20th year of bringing the best science for the most neglected

Child affected by dengue and her mother at their home in Bangkok, Thailand.
Stories
16 Dec 2022

2022: Six advances in neglected disease research to remember

Statements
2 Dec 2022

DNDi‘s comments on the conceptual zero draft for the consideration of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body at INB3

Healthcare workers discussing in hospital setting
Press releases
1 Dec 2022

DNDi partners in a new NIHR-funded Global Health Research Group on HIV-associated Fungal Infections (IMPRINT)

Healthcare workers looking into microscopes
Press releases
30 Nov 2022

Acoziborole: Investigational single-dose oral treatment raises hope for elimination of sleeping sickness in Africa

Journalists talking with healthcare workers
News
23 Nov 2022

DNDi media workshops – bringing together reporters and researchers to cover neglected disease research

VIEW ALL

Help neglected patients

To date, we have delivered twelve new treatments, saving millions of lives.

Our goal is to deliver 25 new treatments in our first 25 years. You can help us get there. 

GIVE NOW
Facebook-f
Twitter
Instagram
Linkedin-in
Youtube
International non-profit developing safe, effective, and affordable treatments for the most neglected patients.

Learn more

  • Diseases
  • Neglected tropical diseases
  • R&D portfolio
  • Policy advocacy

Get in touch

  • Our offices
  • Contact us
  • Integrity Line

Support us

  • Donate
  • Subscribe to eNews

Work with us

  • Join research networks
  • Jobs
  • RFPs
  • Terms of Use   
  •   Acceptable Use Policy   
  •   Privacy Policy   
  •   Cookie Policy   
  •   Our policies   

  • Except for images, films and trademarks which are subject to DNDi’s Terms of Use, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Switzerland License   
We use cookies to track our audience and improve our content. By clicking 'Accept All', you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click on 'Customize' to accept only some cookies.
Customize
ACCEPT ALL
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
CookieLawInfoConsent1 yearRecords the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.
PHPSESSIDsessionThis cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
CookieDurationDescription
elementorneverThis cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_ga_16Q5RH3XRG2 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics.
_gat_UA-10302561-11 minuteA variation of the _gat cookie set by Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager to allow website owners to track visitor behaviour and measure site performance. The pattern element in the name contains the unique identity number of the account or website it relates to.
_gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
_hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress30 minutesHotjar sets this cookie to detect the first pageview session of a user. This is a True/False flag set by the cookie.
_hjFirstSeen30 minutesHotjar sets this cookie to identify a new user’s first session. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user.
_hjIncludedInPageviewSample2 minutesHotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's pageview limit.
_hjIncludedInSessionSample2 minutesHotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's daily session limit.
_hjSession_112884430 minutesHotjar sets this cookie.
_hjSessionUser_11288441 yearHotjar sets this cookie.
CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
Targeting
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo