IFPMA Increases Assistance To The WHO-Based Special Programme For Research And Training In Tropical Diseases (TDR)

Main Category: Tropical Diseases
Article Date: 25 Jan 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) is pleased to announce a grant of USD 1,000,000 to the Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and WHO. The grant will support TDR's development of new medicines to combat diseases that disproportionately affect poor people living in developing countries. The TDR programme plays a vital and unique role in helping to coordinate, support and encourage global research and development efforts in this important area.

Dr. Robert Ridley, Director of TDR, said: "This grant will help us develop and expand networks and collaborative agreements as part of our new ten year strategy. We believe that bringing multidisciplinary groups together to solve problems will make a real difference in reducing many of the infectious tropical diseases that affect so many people in poor countries. The collaborative approach increases skills and develops shared priorities in both the public and private sectors, including increasingly within developing countries."

Mr. Fred Hassan, President of the IFPMA, Chairman and CEO of Schering-Plough commented: "Improving health by creating new medicines for developing country diseases relies on effective collaboration, involving academic and research institutions, government facilities and the R&D pharmaceutical industry. This grant confirms industry's commitment to support global efforts to help control infectious diseases in these countries and make better health care available to patients globally."

Dr. Harvey Bale, Director General of the IFPMA, said: "Over the past decade, research into the TDR priority diseases, such as dengue fever, leishmaniasis, malaria and tuberculosis, has grown, as has the number of organizations active in this field, and this increased effort is well-supported by the practical approach taken by TDR. The IFPMA is pleased to be able to make a further contribution to TDR's important work."

Research-based pharmaceutical companies have been working closely with the TDR since its inception in 1975 and will continue to do so. The TDR "network" model brings together academic researcher groups and industry, providing an environment which enables companies to make available a broad range of in-kind resources, with the ultimate goal to promote the development, availability and accessibility of new medicines to combat diseases that disproportionately affect poor people living in developing countries. TDR provides coherence in tropical disease research, by linking scientists into a broader network of activity, information and knowledge sharing, involving private and public sectors.

About the IFPMA

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation representing national industry associations and companies from both developed and developing countries. Member companies of the IFPMA are research-based pharmaceutical, biotech and vaccine companies.

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations