Bucking the trend: the NI spoke with Yves Champey, director of a new international medical charity, the drugs for neglected diseases initiative (DNDi).Drugs for some of the world's most neglected diseases The Neglected Diseases are a group of tropical infections which are especially endemic in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Different groups define the set of diseases differently. have not been developed by the big Western pharmaceutical companies because there is no viable market for them. The DNDi (see also NI 354) is determined to make available a handful of drugs for diseases like sleeping sickness sleeping sickness: see encephalitis; trypanosomiasis. sleeping sickness Protozoal disease transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly. Two forms, caused by different species of the genus Trypanosoma, occur in separate regions in Africa. , Chagas' disease Chagas' disease, disease of South and Central America caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It usually affects children and young adults and is transmitted by the feces of infected insects, typically the assassin bug. and leishmaniasis leishmaniasis (lēsh'mənī`əsĭs), any of a group of tropical diseases caused by parasitic protozoans of the genus Leishmania. . What's more, it aims to provide them equitably and quickly--within the next decade. Part of the DNDi strategy includes working with Big Pharma; Champey himself is a former vice-president of R&D at the French drug company RhonePoulenc Rorer (since merged with Hoechst to form Aventis). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NI What kind of collaboration is DNDi seeking with Big Pharma and what do you hope to gain? YVES CHAMPEY We are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. two things: one is access to expertise from R&D people in the industry because this is where the most experienced people are working. Second, we are seeking co-operation on particular projects--we may need access to libraries of pharmaceutical compounds or assistance with industrial development when we have identified promising new drugs. NI The drug business is completely controlled by the market. What incentive can DNDi give to get the big pharmaceutical companies involved in your project? YC To be frank, little economic incentive. But, as you know, many people in the R&D departments of these companies are very keen on working on projects relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc poor people, to try to bring some of their energy and knowledge to those who need it. The other thing we are bringing to the companies is the possibility to say that they are strongly contributing to an important project at a relatively small cost. It is important that they bring their knowledge and expertise in favour of the patients--if their image benefits as a result, OK fine. NI Suppose the DNDi develops a drug which tackles one of the major tropical diseases--how can it ensure equitable access? Who would hold the patents for this drug? YC It is improbable that DNDi will be the sole owner of the patent because we are not going into actual medicinal chemistry Medicinal or pharmaceutical chemistry is a scientific discipline at the intersection of chemistry and pharmacology involved with designing, synthesizing and developing pharmaceutical drugs. research. But one thing we will have to ensure when signing patents is to have the best possible agreement in favour of patients. The use of the drug will be restricted to specific areas in poorer countries so profits will be minimal or non-existent. There isn't a single case of leishmaniasis in New York's Bellevue Hospital Bellevue Hospital, municipal hospital, in New York City. America's oldest public hospital, Bellevue developed from a "Publick Workhouse and House of Correction" commissioned in 1734. , for example. NI James Orbinsky, the former president of Medecins Sans Frontieres, says lifesaving drugs 'must be considered public goods and not simply consumer products'. What is the DNDi view? YC The vision we have developed with James Orbinsky is of drugs and health as public goods. But we have to be realistic. The compounds we want to access in the next few years are going to belong to someone and we will have to agree with them on the conditions under which we can develop these drugs. In the future, if we succeed, we could think of building an international public library of drugs. And that could eventually lead to a bank of compounds that are considered 'public goods'. But we are far from that. NI Considering your industry background, what drew you towards a project like the DNDi? YC As a young physician I worked in Algeria under extremely difficult circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or , which at the beginning of your professional life you don't forget. When I was in the industry I always tried to fight for particular diseases and take attitudes which were not always considered 'classic'. I was lucky to be able to develop a career without thinking too much about marketing, profit, market shares, etc. NI Critics argue that many of the diseases you are targeting really need a huge public health response with governments and international bodies taking action. In this context, is the DNDi just going to be a drop in the ocean? YC It might be a drop, but then what is an ocean but a collection of drops? We won't have much political power, but hopefully we will have good advocacy power through our partner organizations. The issue is complicated and full of potential problems. We certainly do not have the perfect conditions. But if we wait for all aspects to be solved, nothing will happen. What choice do we have but to go ahead? www.dndi.org DNDi's partners * Medecins Sans Frontieres * Fiocruz (Brazil, state-owned drug producer) * Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases Tropical diseases are infectious diseases that either occur uniquely in tropical and subtropical regions (which is rare) or, more commonly, are either more widespread in the tropics or more difficult to prevent or control. (Geneva-based, sponsored by the UN, World Bank and the World Health Organization) * Institut Pasteur (France) * Indian Council of Medical Research The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. * Malaysian Ministry of Health * Kenya Medical Research Institute The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is one of East Africa's leading medical research centres. It is located in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Established in 1979, KEMRI has played an important role in the fight against malaria, HIV/AIDS and other diseases in Kenya, and |
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