Neglected tropical diseases

Merck Continues the Fight against Schistosomiasis in a Storytelling Lab

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Research, Infectious Diseases, Other Health, Other Education, Health, Pharmaceutical, General Health, Science, Education, Parasitism, Schistosomiasis, Disease, Tablet, SVP, Male, Health education, World Health Organization, Skin, Neglected tropical diseases, WHO, Multimedia, Ministry, Pharmaceutical industry

Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced the winners of its 2024 Bilharzia Storytelling Lab in Ethiopia.

Key Points: 
  • Merck, a leading science and technology company, announced the winners of its 2024 Bilharzia Storytelling Lab in Ethiopia.
  • This innovative initiative aims to develop creative solutions in order to raise awareness about schistosomiasis and, in doing so, bring about behavioral change.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240402803315/en/
    The winners of this year's Merck Bilharzia Storytelling Lab in Ethiopia (Photo: Business Wire)
    Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases and affects more than 240 million people worldwide.
  • Read more about how Merck is committed to eliminating schistosomiasis: www.merckgroup.com/schistosomiasis
    View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240402803315/en/

Aditxt Signs a Definitive Agreement to Acquire Appili Therapeutics Inc., Developer of a Biodefense Vaccine Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Health, Defense, Infectious Diseases, Pharmaceutical, Contracts, Biotechnology, Ulcer, Paromomycin, Patient, NTD, IND, Metronidazole, Francisella tularensis, Infection, OTCQX, Therapy, Priority review, USD, Risk, Systemic, NIH, Anthrax, Arrangement, World Health Organization, Investigational New Drug, Calendar, Scar, Neglected tropical diseases, Tablet, Public, Research, News, PRV, Acquisition, TSX, Drug development, Population health, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, Canada Business Corporations Act, FDA, Transaction, Government, Growth, Entrepreneurship, Skin infection, Share, Procurement, WHO, Pharmaceutical industry

The U.S. FDA's approval of LIKMEZ highlighted Appili’s capacity to identify and develop significant opportunities within the infectious disease domain.

Key Points: 
  • The U.S. FDA's approval of LIKMEZ highlighted Appili’s capacity to identify and develop significant opportunities within the infectious disease domain.
  • Appili licensed the manufacturing and commercialization rights in the U.S. and other selected territories to Saptalis Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Saptalis”).
  • Appili, in collaboration with Saptalis, continued the product's development, ultimately achieving FDA approval in the United States.
  • With FDA approval, future revenue is expected to be derived from milestone payments and royalties from Saptalis under the license agreement.

Eisai Commences Fully-Fledged Business Activities at Pharma Sales Subsidiary in South Africa

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Lenvatinib, Lemborexant, Neglected tropical diseases, Life expectancy, African, EAC, Patient, Sales operations, SADC, Marketing, Southern African Development Community, Tropical medicine, Alzheimer's disease, Poverty, Dementia, Republic, Infection, Cancer, Malaria, Pharmaceutical industry

Commencement of Direct Sales Operations in Africa, and Establishment of Branch Office in Kenya

Key Points: 
  • Commencement of Direct Sales Operations in Africa, and Establishment of Branch Office in Kenya
    TOKYO, Feb 1, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that fully-fledged operations have begun at Eisai Pharmaceuticals Africa (Pty) Ltd ("Eisai South Africa"), a pharmaceutical sales subsidiary recently established in Johannesburg, South Africa, and direct sales operations and business activities have commenced in Africa.
  • Eisai South Africa is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai.
  • Eisai South Africa has started sales and marketing activities directly for Lenvima and Fycompa from January 2024, as well as Halaven from February 2024.
  • Seeking solutions to these challenges in Africa, Eisai will continue its initiatives to deliver necessary medicines to the patients who need them through Eisai South Africa and Eisai Kenya.

Fighting leprosy with artificial intelligence: DAHW and Belle.ai join forces with Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action to detect and combat neglected diseases

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Artificial intelligence, GIS, Taco Bell, Patient, Dermatology, Social, Intelligence, Neglected tropical diseases, Rehabilitation, AI, Leprosy, Disability, Social Action, Software, Skin, Project, Disease, WHO, Tuberculosis, Fear, Social stigma, Community, Contact tracing, Telehealth, Ministry, Smartphone, Pharmaceutical industry

DAHW and Belle.ai will also provide the Ministry of Health with a geographic information system (GIS) for tracking infections and coordinating treatment response.

Key Points: 
  • DAHW and Belle.ai will also provide the Ministry of Health with a geographic information system (GIS) for tracking infections and coordinating treatment response.
  • Aiming to integrate people with leprosy into society, Senegal in June 2023 officially abolished the “social rehabilitation villages” created in 1976 to isolate people with leprosy.
  • But leprosy remains endemic in remote areas of the nation, where no dermatologists are readily available to identify the disease.
  • Artificial intelligence can help healthcare staff with less expertise to detect diseases such as leprosy in regions where no specialist personnel venture."

Press Release: EMA gives positive opinion to Fexinidazole Winthrop as first oral treatment of acute form of sleeping sickness (rhodesiense) found in East and Southern Africa

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 15, 2023
Risk, Movement, Death, Climate change, Infection, World Health Organization, Drought, Democratic republic, HAT, CHMP, Neglected tropical diseases, Cattle, Development, European, Disease, Human, African trypanosomiasis, Animal, SDC, Parasitic disease, Climate, Tropical medicine, Developing country, Tecnologia, Aggression, EMA, WHO, Project, International health, Patient, Sanofi, Partnership, Trypanosomiasis, Research, Trypanosoma brucei, Psychosis, Clinical trial, Somatic symptom disorder, Committee, Zoonosis, Pharmaceutical industry

Sanofi, DNDi and the HAT-r-ACC consortium announce the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive scientific opinion of Fexinidazole Winthrop as first oral treatment of acute form of sleeping sickness (rhodesiense).

Key Points: 
  • Sanofi, DNDi and the HAT-r-ACC consortium announce the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive scientific opinion of Fexinidazole Winthrop as first oral treatment of acute form of sleeping sickness (rhodesiense).
  • rhodesiense sleeping sickness, an acute and lethal form of this parasitic disease found in Eastern and Southern Africa.
  • Sleeping sickness, or human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), is usually fatal without treatment.
  • Both forms of sleeping sickness are transmitted by the bite of infected tsetse flies, which are found in 36 African countries.

Global donors pledge over US$777 million to defeat neglected tropical diseases and improve the lives of 1.6 billion people at the Reaching the Last Mile Forum at COP28

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Philanthropy, Health, Infectious Diseases, Other Health, Fund Raising, Foundation, General Health, Lymphatic filariasis, Global health, Climate change, WHO, Investment, Map, Public holidays in Turkmenistan, ANESVAD Foundation, Onchocerciasis, Conference, Quality of life, RLM, NTD, Organization, Prevalence, USAID, Multimedia, Melinda French Gates, Helmsley, Neglected tropical diseases, Carter Center, Closed-end fund, Face, Bill, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Foreign Affairs, Laboratory, Infection, Partnership, World Health Organization, Research, Dracunculiasis, Hope, COP28, Carter, Poverty, Demographics of Tanzania, LF, RVNG Intl., Trypanosomiasis, Medical device, Renewable energy, Pharmaceutical industry, Agriculture, Sanitation

The forum took place on the first ever Health Day during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

Key Points: 
  • The forum took place on the first ever Health Day during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
  • His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, UAE, was joined by world leaders including H.E.
  • Dr Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone, in a demonstration of endemic country leadership against NTDs.
  • The collaborative efforts of countries and global donors exemplify an unwavering dedication to improving the lives of the 1.6 billion people affected by these diseases.

EMA Recommends Arpraziquantel for Treatment of Schistosomiasis in Preschool-Aged Children

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
World Health Organization, Global health, Schistosomiasis, European Medicines Agency, Consortium, WHO, Disease, Tablet, Clinical trial, EMA, Schistosoma haematobium, European, Vaccine, CHMP, Parasitism, Health, Committee, Child, Blood, Praziquantel, Neglected tropical diseases, Infection, Universal Corporation, Water, Partnership, Swimming, Skin, Schistosoma mansoni, Taste, Pharmaceutical industry, Nursing, Merck

TOKYO, Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has supported the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium's development of arpraziquantel since 2013 through a total investment of approximately 1.85 billion Japanese yen. On December 15, the Consortium announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive scientific opinion for arpraziquantel to treat schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children. Arpraziquantel is the first investigational drug to receive positive scientific opinion amongst the projects funded by the GHIT Fund. Present in 78 countries and endemic in 51, schistosomiasis affects more than 240 million people, about 50 million of whom are preschool-aged children. Leveraging Japanese innovation and leadership in the global fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), GHIT Fund invests in global health R&D and facilitates transformational cross-border public-private partnerships.

Key Points: 
  • On December 15, the Consortium announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive scientific opinion for arpraziquantel to treat schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children.
  • Present in 78 countries and endemic in 51, schistosomiasis affects more than 240 million people, about 50 million of whom are preschool-aged children.
  • Extending the range of options for the treatment of schistosomiasis, arpraziquantel is tailored for preschool-aged children against Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium.
  • Its mission is to develop, register, and provide access to a suitable pediatric drug for treating schistosomiasis in children 3 months to 6 years of age.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Vitamin Angels aim to reach 10,000+ Texans with no-cost prenatal vitamins

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Folate, Woman, Health, Brain, Infant, Special, Organization, Blue Cross, Mineral, Prenatal care, Pregnancy, Spine, Patient, Consultant, Lactation, Death, Blue Shield, Tech, Nutrient, Child, University, Neglected tropical diseases, Mother, Partnership, Health education, Anencephaly, Huston–Tillotson University, Knowledge, MOD, Public, Nursing, Dietary supplement, Birth control, Central Texas

RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a shared goal to improve outcomes for mothers and babies statewide, Vitamin Angels will join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas' evolved Special Beginnings® maternal and infant health initiative in an effort to put at least 10,000 six-month supplies of prenatal vitamins and minerals in the hands of family-planning, pregnant and postpartum Texas women.

Key Points: 
  • "Seventy-four percent of women seeking pregnancy health advice start with a health care provider - and nearly half seek that advice online.
  • "We want to reduce barriers for women to receive the necessary nutrients and begin moving the needle on maternal and infant outcomes."
  • Vitamin Angels is a global public health nonprofit working to improve maternal and child nutrition.
  • "We are thrilled to collaborate with BCBSTX so, together, we can reach even more pregnant women in Texas with the prenatal vitamins and minerals they need."

Lao PDR Reaches Incredible Milestone in Mitigating Neglected Tropical Diseases with Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
WHO, PDR, Elephantiasis, Neglected tropical diseases, Lao people, International development, United, Asian Development Bank, Government, FHI360, Albendazole, RESEARCH, East, Filariasis, Lymphatic filariasis, GSK plc, RTI, Disease, Democratic republic, USAID, World Health Organization, Risk, Disability, Trachoma, Public, PARK, NTD, RTI International, Tutoring, Pharmaceutical industry

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Oct. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RTI International, a nonprofit research institute and leading international development organization, joins the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), World Health Organization, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in celebrating Lao PDR's achievement of eliminating lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. 

Key Points: 
  • WHO officially confirmed this week that the people of Lao PDR are no longer at risk of contracting the disease.
  • "It is particularly significant given that Lao PDR achieved the elimination of trachoma as public health problem in 2017, demonstrating the power of national commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases."
  • We are proud to be among the partners that supported the Lao PDR Ministry of Health to achieve this important milestone for its people."
  • The elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Lao PDR was supported by many partners including USAID, RTI, FHI360, WHO, Mac Foundation, and the Asian Development Bank.

African leaders warn of deadly malaria emergency and call for urgent action to address unprecedented funding shortfall

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Private sector, Emergency, United Nations, Failure, TB, Agenda 2063, African Leaders Malaria Alliance, World Bank Group, HE, IDA, Temperature, COVID, World Bank, United Nations General Assembly, Government, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Public sector, Epidemic, Drug resistance, Republic, Climate change, Risk, Child, UN, Excellency, African Union, UHC, Guinea-Bissau, Weather, African Union Commission, Health, Neglected tropical diseases, Disease, AU, Insecticide, Vaccine, Pharmaceutical industry, Renewable energy, State, Malaria

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- African Union Heads of State and Government, global health leaders and development partners today issued a joint call for urgent action to address the looming malaria emergency. They warned that failure to act now will put at risk both the African Union's target of eliminating malaria in Africa by 2030, and the UN target of ending malaria epidemics by 2030.

Key Points: 
  • African Union Heads of State and Government, global health leaders and development partners today issued a joint call for urgent action to address the looming malaria emergency.
  • NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- African Union Heads of State and Government, global health leaders and development partners today issued a joint call for urgent action to address the looming malaria emergency.
  • "If we don't act swiftly to address the immediate gap of $1.5 billion and mobilise the necessary resources, we will undoubtedly see malaria upsurges and epidemics."
  • His Excellency President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance painted an alarming picture: "We are at a critical juncture.