DNDi and Abbott to Collaborate on Treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Abbott has announced that it has signed a four-year joint research and non-exclusive licensing agreement with The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), to undertake research on new treatments for several of the world’s most neglected tropical diseases.

The neglected diseases are a group of tropical infections that disproportionately affect the world’s poor and marginalized populations. They include Chagas disease, helminth infections, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness.

Since 2009, Abbott has provided compounds for DNDi to screen for activity against neglected diseases. This new agreement between DNDi and Abbott scientists will focus its initial efforts of discovering and advancing novel antimicrobial agents with activity against these diseases.

"Innovative product development partnerships have significant potential for addressing neglected diseases," said Dr. John Leonard, senior vice president, Pharmaceuticals, Research and Development, Abbott. "By combining the unique scientific expertise and resources of DNDi and Abbott, we look forward to accelerating research to find practical new treatment options for people affected by these diseases."

"Abbott has demonstrated a great level of commitment by partnering with DNDi to share not only its compounds, but also its expertise and resources. For DNDi, this implies a new critical mass of knowledge to pursue our goals of addressing the unmet needs of neglected patients in the poorest areas of the world," said Dr Bernard Pecoul, Executive Director of DNDi.

At the core of the agreement is a commitment to provide equitable access to treatments for neglected diseases in all endemic countries, not only least-developed countries. DNDi has committed to ensuring the lowest sustainable pricing for any products developed and distributed as a result of the agreement.