- Dr. Vasella signs Memorandum of Understanding to continue tuberculosis drug donation to Tanzania
- Donation includes 250,000 treatments worth USD 6 million over the next three to four years
- Affirmation of overall commitment of Novartis to improve access to medicines in developing countries
Basel, July 7, 2009 - Novartis announced today, the official extension of its tuberculosis (TB) drug donation to Tanzania. Novartis has already delivered nearly 250,000 TB treatments to Tanzania between 2005 and 2008. With the new Memorandum of Understanding, Novartis committed to extend the donation, delivering another 250,000 treatments over the next 3 to 4 years. This donation is worth about USD 6 million and aimed to treat an estimated 60,000 patients per year.
Dr. Daniel Vasella, Chairman and CEO of Novartis, also discussed with President Kikwete the ongoing Novartis commitment to improve access to medicines for patients in developing countries. Activities of Novartis and its foundation range from research projects to drug donations, social marketing programs and training of healthcare staff in various disease areas such as malaria, leprosy, and TB. Klaus M. Leisinger, President and CEO of the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, who was also present at the meeting, addressed the role of the national government which is crucial in improving access to healthcare.
"Addressing the health problems of the developing world is complex and challenging,", said Dr Vasella, "No single player can be successful. To make a meaningful and sustainable impact for patients in the developing world, governments, international institutions, industry, and civil society must join forces."
TB, a highly infectious disease, continues to claim nearly two million victims per year mostly in developing countries. The disease is very complex to treat, requiring a combination of drugs administered over six to eight months. A lack of patient compliance during this lengthy period has led to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB. The recommended treatment for TB by the World Health Organization is DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy Short-course), an approach that requires patients to take their medicines under direct daily observation by a medical professional.
In Tanzania, the Novartis Foundation has taken DOTS one step further. The Patient-Centered TB Treatment (PCT) gives patients the choice to follow treatment either at a health facility or at home supervised by a family member. First results showed that 88% of TB patients chose home-based treatment. Although patients are not observed by trained personnel every day, treatments improved from 72% to 78% compared to the old approach. PCT was first introduced to three pilot districts: Arusha Municipal, Kahama, and Mufindi districts. The foundation works closely with the Tanzanian National Tuberculosis Program of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Apart from this work on the ground, Novartis also conducts research on TB through the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in Singapore. The main objective is to develop a novel treatment against multi-drug-resistant TB, and to reduce the long treatment duration.
The TB drug donation will be carried out in cooperation with the global Stop TB Partnership initiative.
About the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development plans and supports projects designed to strengthen and secure essential healthcare provision for the poor in developing countries. Through its events and publications, it seeks to promote dialogue on development policy between public and private-sector institutions. By means of scientific analyses, it helps to define the nature and limits of corporate social responsibility, particularly for pharmaceutical companies. For further information, please visit
www.novartisfoundation.org.
About Novartis
Novartis AG provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in these areas. In 2008, the Group's continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 41.5 billion and net income of USD 8.2 billion. Approximately USD 7.2 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 98,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit
http://www.novartis.com.
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Novartis Media Relations
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Central media line : +41 61 324 2200 |
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Eric Althoff
Novartis Global Media Relations
+41 61 324 7999 (direct)
+41 79 593 4202 (mobile)
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Sabina Matter
Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
+41 61 697 71 17 (direct)
+41 79 833 9886 (mobile)
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