[Ip-health] DNDi ALERT: Over 200 African scientists and policy makers join forces in Nairobi to facilitate research of new treatments for neglected diseases

[Ann-Marie Sevcsik]

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Over 200 African scientists and policy makers join forces in Nairobi to fac=
ilitate research of new treatments for neglected diseases



Nairobi, 21 September 2006:  Over 200 African scientists from 34 countries =
are meeting through this weekend at an international conference organised b=
y the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to engender greater re=
gional research partnership to combat the most neglected diseases such as s=
leeping sickness, kala azar and malaria. Since the first meeting calling fo=
r 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 th=
e clinical trials of a new drug for malaria.



"This meeting of the best scientific minds will consolidate the endeavour o=
f African researchers to work together in the search for new drugs to fight=
 neglected diseases," remarked Hon. Charity Ngilu, Kenya's Minister for Hea=
lth, 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 an=
d 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 1,55=
6) 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, i=
n part due to the remoteness and geographical spread of patients with negle=
cted diseases, has led to a serious lack of research of innovative medicine=
s for this population.



DNDi is currently conducting two unprecedented, large, multi-centre clinica=
l trials in collaboration with African scientists: one on paromomycin, a tr=
eatment for kala azar in Africa, and the other a co-administration of nifur=
timox-eflornithine for sleeping sickness. The new treatments are expected t=
o 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 Trypanoso=
miasis, Platform) and the other on kala azar (LEAP, or Leishmaniasis in Eas=
t Africa Platform). Members of the clinical research platforms are scientis=
ts and policy makers from seven African countries who come together to shar=
e knowledge and expertise on these diseases. DNDi supports training of memb=
ers in various aspects of clinical trials, thus building expertise in clini=
cal research for both diseases so that new treatments and diagnostics can b=
e effectively evaluated and registered by scientists from the endemic regio=
ns.



"Developing countries have the ability to provide new solutions for neglect=
ed diseases, but every day we face an uphill battle to find home-grown capa=
city for research and development into diseases that affect our poor," said=
 Dr Davy Koech, Director Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). "By work=
ing 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 tria=
ls for new drugs," he added.



Another focus group meeting at the conference is on Fixed-dose Artesunate-b=
ased Combination Therapies (FACT) for chloroquine-resistant malaria. DNDi a=
nd 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 ne=
ed 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 scientif=
ic experts from endemic countries," remarked Dr. Bernard Pecoul, Executive =
Director of DNDi. "They have greater insight into neglected diseases and th=
e needs of patients."



For further information, or to arrange interviews with Dr Davy Koech, Dr Be=
rnard Pecoul, and other meeting participants, please contact Ann-Marie Sevc=
sik on +254 (0)725 134 721 or amsevcsik@dndi.org



###



Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit drug dev=
elopment initiative established in 2003 by five publicly-funded research or=
ganisations - Kenya Medical Research Institute, Indian Council of Medical R=
esearch, 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 organisatio=
n M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res.

DNDi aims to develop 6-8 new, improved and field-relevant drugs by 2014 for=
 neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, a=
nd Chagas disease that afflict the very poor in developing countries. It wi=
ll strengthen existing research capabilities in countries where neglected d=
isease 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 <http://www.dndi.org/>  or =
http://www.dndiafrica.org <http://www.dndiafrica.org/> .



Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a leading health research insti=
tution in Africa, established through Kenya's Science and Technology (Amend=
ment) Act of November 1979. Its mission is to conduct health sciences resea=
rch 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, reg=
ional and international institutions and organizations that are involved in=
 health research. With a firm scientific foundation, physical infrastructur=
e, resources and a global network, the vision of the Institute is to contin=
ue to be a leading centre of excellence in health research nationally, regi=
onally, and internationally. For further information, please consult www.ke=
mri.org.