In a joint announcement, the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa),  said “global health advocates and the pharmaceutical industry came together (in Berlin) to discuss strategies for improved collaboration and increased private sector involvement in neglected tropical disease (NTD) treatment and control programs. The announcement said the experts from WHO, BMGF, vfa, Merck KGaA, Merck & Co., Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Bayer HealthCare, Sanofi, and the British Parliament “exchanged new ideas and called for expanded partnerships in order to meet WHO’s target to control and eliminate the most common NTDs by 2020.” The workshop also evaluated progress made since the “London Declaration,” including drug donations from pharmaceutical companies, donor government support for NTD programs and new research and development initiatives. The group also discussed the need for new partnerships between the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to create treatment models that will ultimately allow endemic countries to manage their NTD programs.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industry-ngos-share-joint-progress-on-neglected-tropical-disease-control-171730051.html