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KEY INTERVENTIONS: SITUATION REPORT − CHAPTER 3
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At the other end of the spectrum, basic health policy or social research can clarify issues such
as obstacles to improving access to treatment, seeking behaviour and adherence to treatment.
3.6.2 Developing new methods
New medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and vector control methods are usually developed in
close collaboration with industry. There have been some notable successes through public–
private partnership activities. Public and private sector incentives must be set up to encourage
NTD research and development using appropriate collaborative measures that can allow
exchange of expertise and scientific knowledge through:
• procurement and provision of long-term funding for NTDs;
• industry-wide disease-focused research that is based on need and not solely marketdriven;
• corporate responsibility schemes and platforms such as the Uniting to Combat NTDs
coalition, to encourage innovative incentives;
• funding sources and opportunities such as those provided by Horizon 2020, to promote
sustainable research; and
• provsion of opportunities to emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India, to
make a greater contribution to research.
Vaccine research faces formidable scientific and technical obstacles and is in its early days for
parasitic diseases. There is growing interest in the development of new diagnostics and vector
control tools, such as improved pesticides. A key challenge involves translating basic academic
research into new medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and insecticides.
The treatment of many NTDs depends on medicines that are old – some as old as 50 years.
Of the 1556 new medicines developed between 1975 and 2004, only 21 – representing about
1% – were for tropical diseases (including tuberculosis) (14).
Effective tools exist for some NTDs but their geographical coverage is often limited due to
complex diagnostic and treatment protocols. Simplified control of NTDs that can be managed
by local health services with minimal support from specialized staff is called for; this will require
refining existing methods, as well as devising new ones. Examples for improved methods are
research on a uniform multidrug therapy regimen for all types of leprosy patients that would
facilitate the further integration of control in routine health services; studies on the efficacy of
increased praziquantel dosage for treatment of schistosomiasis; and short-dose pentamidine
for treatment of human African trypanosomiasis. Fixed-dose combinations of existing drugs
are other research avenues that would lead to simplified treatment delivery, reduced risk of
parasite resistance as well as simplified logistics.
Research on new methods includes research into techniques and procedures that would
improve the effectiveness of disease control. An example for lymphatic filariasis is simple foot