AsianScientist (May 30, 2011) – Sanofi and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) announced today a three-year research collaboration agreement for the research of new treatments for nine neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) listed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This agreement covers nine NTDs: kinetoplastid diseases (leishmaniases, Chagas disease, and human African trypanosomiasis), helminth infections (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis), and dracunculiasis, fascioliasis, and schistosomiasis.
Under this agreement, Sanofi will initially bring molecules from its libraries into the partnership, while DNDi and Sanofi collaborate in research activities on innovative molecular scaffolds. The intellectual property generated through the collaboration will be co-owned by Sanofi and DNDi. Together, the partners will publish research results and develop drugs that will benefit the public sector.
Sanofi has been involved in the field of NTDs since the 1940s, through research programs and manufacturing of treatments for sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis. In 2001, Sanofi entered into a partnership agreement with WHO to fight sleeping sickness, which was expanded in 2006 to include leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcer, and Chagas disease, and renewed for a further five years from 2011.
To improve existing drugs and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges, Sanofi created in 2010, within its Research & Development organization, a Therapeutic Strategic Unit dedicated to new anti-infectives. Its scope includes multiresistant bacterial infections as well as some NTDs.
“Sanofi is committed to bringing therapeutic solutions to those most affected and exposed to neglected tropical diseases,” said Dr. Elias Zerhouni, President, Global Research & Development, Sanofi. “In this new research collaboration with DNDi, we have taken a firm step towards greater flexibility in the sharing of knowledge to produce new medicines.”
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit product development partnership working to research and develop new treatments for neglected diseases, in particular human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, malaria, paediatric HIV, and specific helminth-related infections. It was established in 2003 by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation from Brazil, the Indian Council for Medical Research, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia, Pasteur Institute, and Médecins sans Frontières (MSF).
“This agreement is a major milestone in our access to molecules that can help combat neglected diseases,” said Dr. Bernard Pécoul, Executive Director of DNDi.
“We believe that this level of private-sector involvement in open-research collaboration to deliver appropriate medicines as public goods is vital to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations of the world.”
The WHO Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) acts as a permanent observer. Since 2007, DNDi has delivered four products: two fixed-dose anti-malarials (ASAQ developed with Sanofi and ASMQ), NECT (nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy for sleeping sickness), and SSG&PM, a combination therapy to treat visceral leishmaniasis in Africa.
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Source: Sanofi Pasteur.
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