Eliminating leprosy
During the past 20 years, more than 14 million people have been cured of leprosy, shrinking the disease burden by 95%. Today, global prevalence is estimated at fewer than 250 000 cases – a great public health success.
Leprosy: treating disease and caring for patients
For the last ten years, Novartis has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide free multidrug therapy (MDT) to leprosy patients globally. Close to 100% of the global supply of MDT is provided through this collaboration. The equivalent of USD 60 million, this donation has helped cure approximately 5 million patients.
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) has played a major role in both reducing the stigma of leprosy and helping patients reintegrate into society. NFSD launched social marketing campaigns in India to fight ignorance and stigma around leprosy by encouraging patients with the disease to seek treatment. Those who come forward are treated with MDT, and clinics help patients integrate back into society.
Despite the tremendous progress made, the battle has not yet been completely won. Leprosy control is at a critical juncture today. As the spread of this disease has declined, so has the level of international attention and political commitment, including knowledge about diagnosis and treatment in many countries. As a result, many patients with the disease remain untreated.
In January 2012, Novartis announced that the company will continue its work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and extend its drug donation of multidrug therapy (MDT) medicines to treat leprosy through the year 2020. This new five-year commitment includes treatments worth an estimated USD 22.5 million and up to USD 2.5 million to support the WHO in handling the donation and logistics, and is expected to reach an estimated 850,000 patients.
The extension of the Novartis leprosy commitment is a key part of a new, coordinated push by a diverse range of public and private collaborators to combat 10 neglected tropical diseases by 2020. Healthcare companies, governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank pledged to bring a unique focus to defeating these diseases and to work together to improve the lives of the billion people worldwide affected by NTDs.
Novartis is committed to ensuring that patients receive MDT, and we will continue working toward the final elimination of this debilitating disease.
