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Availability and affordability of treatment for Human African Trypanosomiasis
Author(s) -
Etchegorry M. Gastellu,
Helenport J. P.,
Pecoul B.,
Jannin J.,
Legros D.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00764.x
Subject(s) - eflornithine , african trypanosomiasis , business , distribution (mathematics) , orphan drug , trypanosomiasis , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biology , virology , bioinformatics , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , mathematics , enzyme , spermidine
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a re‐emerging disease whose usual treatments are becoming less efficient because of the increasing parasite resistance. Availability of HAT drugs is poor and their production in danger because of technical, ecological and economic constraints. In view of this dramatic situation, a network involving experts from NGOs, WHO and pharmaceutical producers was commissioned with updating estimates of need for each HAT drug for the coming years; negotiations with potential producers of new drugs such as eflornithine; securing sustainable manufacturing of existing drugs; clinical research into new combinations of these drugs for first and second‐line treatments; centralizing drug purchases and their distribution through a unique non‐profit entity; and addressing regulatory and legal issues concerning new drugs.