GENEVA, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ --
-- Donations focused on meeting new WHO targets for
maximum impact against NTDs
-- Builds on industry's long-standing record of
innovating treatments for neglected tropical diseases
Today the research-based pharmaceutical industry announced
donations of 14 billion treatments this decade to support the
elimination or control of nine key neglected tropical diseases
(NTDs). Averaging 1.4 billion treatments annually, the donations
build upon companies' existing medicines donation programmes which
already reach millions of people around the world. Today's
announcement comes in conjunction with an NTD collaboration
comprised of pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, the US and UK governments, international organisations,
and endemic countries' national governments.
At least one billion people worldwide - one person in seven -
suffer from NTDs. Each year NTDs disproportionately kill or disable
millions of poor people primarily in tropical and subtropical
areas.
These donations follow a World Health Organisation (WHO)
announcement of new targets for NTDs whose elimination or control
is achievable with adequate supply and distribution of the relevant
medicines. For maximum impact, these donations focus on those nine
NTDs that represent more than 90 percent of the global NTD
burden.
"For decades individual pharmaceutical companies have researched,
developed, and donated medicines to fight disease and improve
patients' lives," said Eduardo Pisani, Director-General of the
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and
Associations (IFPMA). "Today the research-based pharmaceutical
industry jointly pledges a further 14 billion treatments to help
end these debilitating diseases. This is our commitment as partners
to help end NTDs and improve patient health."
In addition to medicine donations, the research-based
pharmaceutical industry supports the fight against NTDs with
capacity-building efforts in developing countries and medical
innovation. The research-based pharmaceutical industry was the
second largest funder of R&D for neglected diseases in 2010,
reaching more than USD 500 million.
The full press release and a detailed breakdown of donations are
available at:
http://www.ifpma.org/fileadmin/content/News/2012/IFPMA_Ending_neglected_tropical_diseases_January2012.pdf
About the IFPMA:
IFPMA represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies and
associations across the globe. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official
relations with the United Nations and contributes industry
expertise to help the global health community find solutions that
improve global health.
http://www.ifpma.org
SOURCE﹛International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
& Associations