WIPO Clinic on Innovative Partnerships to Address Research and Treatments for NTDs

New York, United States of America - April 24, 2013

One in seven people suffer from at least one Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and 2.5 billion people are at risk. Some treatments are currently available but much more needs to be done to improve access to those medicines as well as further research to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Increased awareness of the issue has led to a surge in efforts to address neglected tropical diseases in the past ten years, in particular through new research partnerships such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, the Medicines for Malaria Venture and WIPO Re:Search. Through improved access to existing medicines, and new partnerships for research to improve diagnosis and treatment, NTDs can be eradicated, making a major contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

WIPO will host this clinic as part of a broader ECOSOC event on Partnering for Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Development to raise awareness of this important issue.

The event will bring together speakers from the pharmaceutical industry, the United Nations, private foundations and non-profit organisations, to look at the progress made to date and identify key gaps and obstacles in achieving large-scale positive change on NTDs.

Why Neglected Tropical Diseases?

Chagas disease, sleeping sickness, river blindness, dengue, leprosis…  These are only a few of the 17 neglected tropical diseases identified by the World Health Organisation. Neglected Tropical Diseases are one of the most widespread health issue in the world.  They are primarily associated with poverty, and yet for long were not at the top of the global health policy agenda.

NTDs are insidious, affecting children’s health, their ability to go to school, their ability to grow strong. They also affect adults, undermining food security, communities and livelihoods.

NTDs are associated with most other major global health and development issues we face today, from water and sanitation, maternal and child health, to education and economic development.

For more information about NTDs visit the Global Network web site.