[e-drug] DNDi ALERT: 200 African scientists and policymakers join forces

["Ann-Marie Sevcsik" <amsevcsik@dndi.org>]

E-DRUG: DNDi ALERT: 200 African scientists and policymakers join forces
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Over 200 African scientists and policy makers join forces in Nairobi to facilitate research of new treatments for neglected diseases

Nairobi, 21 September 2006:  Over 200 African scientists from 23 countries are meeting today at an international conference organised by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to engender greater regional research partnership to combat the most neglected diseases such as sleeping sickness, kala azar and malaria. Since the first meeting calling for greater research cooperation in 2003, significant progress has been made. Clinical research platforms for kala azar and sleeping sickness have been established on the continent, and African scientists have contributed to the clinical trials of a new drug for malaria.

"This meeting of the best scientific minds will consolidate the endeavour of African researchers to work together in the search for new drugs to fight neglected diseases," remarked Hon. Charity Ngilu, Kenya's Minister for Health, Kenya. "Kenya has its share of these burdensome diseases and is proud to be a member of this regional partnership, so we can share information and expertise with fellow scientists from Africa and the rest of the world."

New drugs and diagnostics are desperately needed: Only 1.3% (21 out of 1,556) of new drugs developed over 30 years was for neglected tropical diseases and tuberculosis, even though these diseases account for 12% of the global disease burden. But capacity for R&D in developing countries is limited, in part due to the remoteness and geographical spread of patients with neglected diseases, has led to a serious lack of research of innovative medicines for this population. 

DNDi is currently conducting two unprecedented, large, multi-centre clinical trials in collaboration with African scientists: one on paromomycin, a treatment for kala azar in Africa, and the other a co-administration of nifurtimox-eflornithine for sleeping sickness. The new treatments are expected to be available to patients within 3 years. 

At the three-day long conference, two regional clinical research platforms will convene, one on sleeping sickness (the HAT, or Human African Trypanosomiasis, Platform) and the other on kala azar (LEAP, or Leishmaniasis in East Africa Platform). Members of the clinical research platforms are scientists and policy makers from seven African countries who come together to share knowledge and expertise on these diseases. DNDi supports training of members in various aspects of clinical trials, thus building expertise in clinical research for both diseases so that new treatments and diagnostics can be effectively evaluated and registered by scientists from the endemic regions. 

"Developing countries have the ability to provide new solutions for neglected diseases, but every day we face an uphill battle to find home-grown capacity for research and development into diseases that affect our poor," said Dr Davy Koech, Director Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). "By working together in regional, needs-driven research platforms, we are not only on the way to addressing the lack of capacity, but also helping in the trials for new drugs," he added.  

Another focus group meeting at the conference is on Fixed-dose Artesunate-based Combination Therapies (FACT) for chloroquine-resistant malaria. DNDi and its partners will bring a new, easy to use, ACT - artesunate-amodiaquine - to patients in Africa. Most of the patients on the new treatment will need to take just one tablet a day for three days.  

"To meet our aim of developing new, field-adapted treatments that meet the specific needs of neglected patients, we need to work closely with scientific experts from endemic countries," remarked Dr. Bernard Pecoul, Executive Director of DNDi. "They have greater insight into neglected diseases and the needs of patients." 
 
For further information, or to arrange interviews with Dr Davy Koech and Dr Bernard Pecoul, please contact Ann-Marie Sevcsik on +254 (0)725 134 721 or amsevcsik@dndi.org

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Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit drug development initiative established in 2003 by five publicly-funded research organisations - Kenya Medical Research Institute, Indian Council of Medical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Brazil, Malaysian Ministry of Health, and the Institut Pasteur; an international research organisation WHO's Tropical Diseases Research programme; and an international humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières.
DNDi aims to develop 6-8 new, improved and field-relevant drugs by 2014 for neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease that afflict the very poor in developing countries. It will strengthen existing research capabilities in countries where neglected disease are endemic. And it will advocate for increased priority and funding for research and development of drugs for neglected diseases. For further information, please consult http://www.dndi.org or http://www.dndiafrica.org.

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a leading health research institution in Africa, established through Kenya's Science and Technology (Amendment) Act of November 1979. Its mission is to conduct health sciences research and generate research findings to be applied towards the improvement of the health status of the nation. KEMRI makes a significant contribution to regional scientific capacity. It hosts a number of important international health research initiatives and has developed useful links with local, regional and international institutions and organizations that are involved in health research. With a firm scientific foundation, physical infrastructure, resources and a global network, the vision of the Institute is to continue to be a leading centre of excellence in health research nationally, regionally, and internationally. For further information, please consult www.kemri.org.