Letter from Chairman and Executive Director

 
Marcel Tanner     and     Bernard Pécoul  

In March 2009, the World Bank estimated that if the current global economic crisis persists, there could be between 200,000 and 400,000 additional child deaths every year – between 1.4 and 2.8 million before 2015-and 100 million of the world’s poorest forced back into poverty. The conclusion of the world leaders was eloquent: “Any reduction in investment in healthcare will have devastating consequences for the sick and untreated, and has the potential to plunge new groups and nations into poverty.”

Now, as we are preparing our annual report, we have no option but to consider this economic breakdown which constitutes a dramatic challenge not only for DNDi and our stakeholders, but also for all those committed to bringing innovation and new tools to those most in need.

Most neglected tropical diseases primarily affect the poor and marginalised who have few resources or possibilities to make a living. The high burden of disease and loss of productivity aggravate poverty which is further compounded by the high cost of long-term care.

For tropical diseases such as sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, for which no adequate treatments or diagnostics exist, research is needed now more than ever, for new, practical, and effective tools, and efficient ways to implement them. With the strongest and most comprehensive drug portfolio for these neglected tropical diseases in history, DNDi continues to engage partners who share our vision and commitment, and to ensure that a well-balanced pipeline is maintained.

For all these R&D disease strategies, DNDi has made major progress in delivering quality, affordable and adapted treatments.

Specifically, advances in combatting one of the most neglected diseases – sleeping sickness - are significant, as this is the role, mission, and the “raison d’être” of DNDi . To deliver an improved therapeutic option for this disease, strong partnerships have been set up with national programmes of most endemic countries, NGOs, public and private research institutions, and the World Health Organization (WHO). Oral nifurtimox and intravenous eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) has been included on the WHO Essential Medicines List. NECT, the first improved treatment for sleeping sickness in 25 years, is now available for use in treating the advanced stage of the disease and could save four to five lives of every 100 patients treated, as it is far less toxic than the arsenic drug that is still being used in some areas. It is a major improvement and source of satisfaction for all the partners who have been engaged in our organisation since its creation in 2003. However, delivering a truly simplified treatment which can be orally administered,
implemented at the primary healthcare level, and effective against both stages of the disease, is still our ultimate goal.

One promising drug entering into clinical development this year is fexinidazole –the only new clinical candidate currently in the drug pipeline for sleeping sickness. This project holds great promise for patients and practitioners in the field. Both short- and long-term strategies are considered as the core of our scientific approach, which requires the best scientific resources at all stages of R&D to access compounds, technologies, expertise, and knowledge.

Sleeping sickness is one illustration of DNDi ’s continuous progress to boost innovation for the most neglected patients. Another example is our successful track record of collaboration with sanofi-aventis in delivering ASAQ for the treatment of malaria. In 2008, more than 5 million treatment courses were procured and 20 to 30 million more will be delivered in 2009.

Six years on from its founding, DNDi is managing more than 300 partnerships with a wide range of public and private partners and NGOs, and ten clinical trials are ongoing in 2009, with more than 400 people engaged in our programmes.

With focused collaboration, innovative thinking, and political leadership, we will meet the noble goals set by our organisation. We remain firmly engaged in making a major and significant contribution to the Millennium Development Goals and bringing those forgotten patients out of the shadows.

The changes seen in the past decade offer a new landscape for collaboration to improve essential healthcare. At a time when the financial crisis could have significant consequences for the poorest, greater investment from governments and the private sector, complemented with new and adapted funding mechanisms, are needed to ensure that these efforts will be sustained and strengthened.

We would like to thank again all our donors for their support, and particularly those who have reinforced their commitment to most neglected diseases with significant multi-year contributions.

We would also like to pay special tribute to our dedicated team working at DNDi for their outstanding commitment and contribution to our successes.

Investing in R&D for the most neglected patients goes hand in hand with better health and economic growth for affected marginalised communities. Help us meet our goal.

Simply because their wellbeing matters.

               
Dr. Bernard Pécoul     Dr. Marcel Tanner
Executive Director       Chairman