EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - Two important events will focus on “neglected diseases” affecting millions of people. Developing countries have urgent need of resources

Rome (Fides Service) - Two important international conferences which could decide the future of millions in developing countries affected by “neglected diseases” will be held this month: a “Ministerial Summit on Medical Research” Mexico City 16 to 20 November and a Conference promoted by the Dutch government and the World Health Organisation on “Priority Medicines for Citizens of Europe and the World” (The Hague 18 November).
Millions of people suffer from neglected diseases such as TB, malaria, Leishmaniose and Sleeping Sickness which are treated with old drugs often ineffective and some even toxic. No less than 1,393 new drugs were put on the market between 1975 and 1999 but only 13 of these (1%) were to treat tropical diseases or TB.
The traditional system of research and development of new drugs has revealed itself to be inadequate for neglected diseases. These pathologies cause increasing rates of mortality and morbidity in poor countries, and the affected people in desperate need of new drugs are too poor to guarantee a profit for investments.
The lives of millions suffering from neglected diseases depend on decisions by participants at the summit in Mexico City and conference in The Hague.
Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DND) non profit organisation is working to develop drugs for Sleeping Sickness, Chagas and Leishmaniose. DND calls on governments to invest more in treatment for neglected diseases and to support “not for profit” initiatives of research; to promote transfer of technology to countries where these diseases are endemic; encourage and incentivise pharmaceutical companies to be more committed to research on drugs for neglected diseases.
DND is a joint initiative started in 2003 by the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Doctors without Frontiers, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Malaysian Health Ministry and the Medical Research Institute of Kenya with the participation of the WHO programme for research and formation on tropical diseases (Who/TDR). DND aims to develop drugs for neglected diseases. (AP) (12/11/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32; Parole:384)