Partners launch campaign against 10 neglected diseases

Thirteen biopharma companies partnered with several governments and international health organizations to eliminate or control 10 neglected tropical diseases by 2020. The partners agreed to sustain or expand existing drug donation programs to meet demand through 2020, share expertise and compounds to accelerate R&D of new drugs and provide more than $785 million to support R&D and strengthen drug distribution and implementation programs.

The targeted diseases are blinding trachoma; Chagas disease; Guinea worm disease; human African trypanosomiasis; leprosy; lymphatic filariasis; onchocerciasis; schistosomiasis; soil-transmitted helminthes; and visceral leishmaniasis. ...