[Ip-health] DNDi Alert: Governments Wake Up at 59th World Health Assembly by Passing Resolution to Boost Research on Neglected Diseases

[Ann-Marie Sevcsik]

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Governments Wake Up at the 59th World Health Assembly By Passing Resolution=
 to Boost Research on Neglected Diseases



29 May 2006, Geneva. DNDi welcomes the agreement by WHO member states to pa=
ss a resolution that calls for governments to boost innovative research and=
 development (R&D) on drugs for neglected diseases.



During this past weekend, the annual assembly of 192 WHO member states agre=
ed to establish an intergovernmental working group that will develop a glob=
al strategy and plan of action to provide a medium-term framework for needs=
-driven, essential health R&D.



Spearheaded by Kenya and Brazil, this resolution represents a pivotal first=
 step to address a fatal research imbalance that has so far been ignored. B=
y the next World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2007, the resolution calls for a =
report that proposes clear objectives and priorities for R&D, along with es=
timated funding needs, and that will be finalized in time for the WHA in 20=
08.



"The resolution is a clear sign that governments are waking up to their res=
ponsibility to prioritize needs-driven health R&D," remarked Dr. Bernard Pe=
coul."



The deliberations of the World Health Assembly come one month after a WHO-c=
ommissioned report led by former Swiss president Ruth Dreifuss identified f=
laws in the current R&D model, and one week after DNDi presented its R&D ap=
peal calling for government leadership to the late WHO Director-General Lee=
.



Dr. Pecoul said, "As a product development partnership, DNDi recognizes tha=
t it is only part of the solution and is greatly encouraged that the WHO, i=
n collaboration with world governments, will devise novel mechanisms to bri=
ng new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to those who so desperately need th=
em."



###



________________________________

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) is an  independent, not-=
for-profit drug development initiative established in 2003 by five public-s=
ector research organisations - Kenya Medical Research Institute, Indian Cou=
ncil of Medical Research, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation Brazil, Malaysian Ministr=
y of Health, and France's Institut Pasteur; and M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8re=
s.The UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO's Special Programme for Research and Train=
ing in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is a permanent observer to the initiative. W=
ith a current portfolio of 20 projects, DNDi aims to develop new, improved,=
 and field-relevant drugs for neglected diseases, such as malaria, leishman=
iasis, human African trypanosomiasis, and Chagas disease, that afflict the =
very poor in developing countries. DNDi also raises awareness about the nee=
d for greater R&D for neglected diseases and strengthens existing research =
capacity in disease-endemic countries. For further information, please cons=
ult http://www.dndi.org <http://www.dndi.org/> .

The R&D appeal was launched in June 2005 by DNDi and its founding partners,=
 OxFam, and BIOS Initiative. This past week, on 15 May 2006, the appeal and=
 its list of signatories were presented to Dr. LEE Jong-Wook, Director-Gene=
ral of the WHO, by Dr. Bernard Pecoul and Dr. Yves Champey of DNDi. More th=
an 6,000 concerned scientists, policymakers, industry, NGO members and conc=
erned individuals (including 19 Nobel laureates) have already signed as of =
today. For further information on the Appeal and activities related to esse=
ntial health R&D during the WHA 2006, please consult http://www.researchapp=
eal.org <http://www.researchappeal.org/> .

________________________________

###

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Bernard Pecoul, c=
ontact Ann-Marie SEVCSIK at amsevcsik@dndi.org; +1-646-258-8131 or +41 (0)7=
9 814 9147)