United to end Neglected Tropical Diseases by 2020

Today, according to our sister association IFPMA, the research-based pharmaceutical industry announced donations of 14 billion treatments this decade to support the elimination of nine key neglected diseases (NTDs) that represent more than 90% of the global NTD burden.

Neglected tropical diseases affect more than 1 billion people, primarily poor populations living in tropical and subtropical climates. These illnesses affect both children and adults for life, often lead to stigmatisation, and can prevent children from developing to their fullest potential.

Partners in the initiative, including thirteen pharmaceutical companies, WHO,  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and governments, pledged to come up with new products and infrastructure to improve the lives of 1.4 billion people affected by nine illenesses such as:

• Human African trypanosomiasis (Sleeping sickness)
• Chagas disease
• Lymphatic filariasis, 
• Soil-transmitted helminthiases
• Onchocerciasis (River blindness)
• Schistosomiasis
• Leprosy
• Fascioliasis
• Blinding Trachoma

The programme is intended to follow goals set out in the WHO's 2020 Roadmap on Neglected Tropical Diseases. 

Speaking on behalf of the CEOs of the thirteen pharmaceutical companies involved, Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline and EFPIA President, said:

"Many companies and organisations have worked for decades to fight these horrific diseases. But no one company or organisation can do it alone. Today, we pledge to work hand-in-hand to revolutionize the way we fight these diseases now and in the future."

Uniting to combat neglected tropical diseases, the video:

For more information about NTD donations, read the IFPMA brochure below:

NTD Brochure 2012

To complete your knowledge on this initiative, visit also the IFPMA website and the Uniting to combat neglected tropical diseases website on the London Declaration.

What we are reading this week:

1. BBC News: "Fake drugs given to NHS patients still untraced".
2. EUObserver: "EU countries sign unpopular anti-counterfeiting treaty".
3. Bloomberg: "Government cost-cutting has worsened an already dysfunctional system".
4. Inpharm: "Moving towards milestones: The evolving pharma-biotech realtionship".
5. Pharmaceutical Executive: "Innovation: Why is pharma scared to death?"
6. The IPKat Blog: "Should the duration of pharmaceutical patents be extended?"
7. Pharmalot: "How many people go online for pharma info?"
8. Kevin MD Blog: "The internet is where patients go for pre-visit consultations".

Press Release: EAEPC-EFPIA-GIRP-PGEU working for better Patient Safety

Read below the joint press release below on the developement of  a practical and cost-effective solution to implement the requirements of the Falsified Medicines Directive in Europe: The European Stakeholder Model (ESM)


Joint Press Release EDQM 260112

Study: The burden of diabetes in Europe

Currently 32 million people in the EU have diabetes, withthis figure set to grow to 38.3 million by 2030. Treating diabetes and its complications takes up between 10% and 18.5% of EU member States healthcare budgets. 

According to a new study released today by London School of Economics (LSE), the rise in diabetes prevalence is driven by:

• Increasing obesity,
• Ageing populations
• Change in ethnic distibution

 In order to investigate these growing costs and understand how diabetes is being managed, the LSE have conducted a study aimed at identifying and comparing diabetes burden of disease, costs (direct and indirect) and diabetes outcomes, focusing on complications across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK (EU5).  

The study shows clearly that diabetes is under-diagnosed and under-treated.

Furthermore, it finds that the direct national cost burden of people with diabetes vary substantially across countries, predominantly driven by prevalence, but also due to a higher per patient cost in France, Germany and the UK; contriuting to a total of €90 billion in 2010.

The recommendations of the study to ease the burden of diabetes in Europe are the following: 

At national level

Establishing diabetes registries, expanding prevention strategies, encouraging tailored high screening programmes to identify patients at an earlier stage and improving primary healthcare to increase adherence.

At European level

 Under the mandate of article 168 of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union should facilitate the sharing of best practice between countries; monitor and report on data related to cost, prevalence, outcomes, and complications; establish criteria for standardised data that is comparable between Member States; monitor and report on national policies to manage diabetes in order to facilitate and support best practice sharing amongst Member States. The above could be achieved via the establishment of a European Diabetes Observatory.

Read the full report on the LSE website, here.