Sanofi and TB Alliance Announce Collaboration to Accelerate New Treatments Against Tuberculosis

Sanofi and the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) announced today a new research collaboration agreement to accelerate the discovery and development of novel compounds against tuberculosis (TB), a deadly infectious disease that resulted in almost 1.5 million deaths worldwide in 2010.

Developing World Health Partnerships Directory reflects pharmaceutical industry’s and partners’ commitment to improving health in developing countries

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) published the 2012 update to its Developing World Health Partnerships Directory today. Now totaling 220 and reaching people in more than 160 countries, these health partnerships highlight the commitment of research-based pharmaceutical industry and its many partners including governments, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, private sector companies and universities to improve health around the world.

Republic of Uganda and MSD Launch Cervical Cancer Vaccination Program

The Republic of Uganda through the Ministry of Health (MoH), supported by MSD (known as Merck in the United States and Canada), today announced the launch of a national vaccination program with GARDASIL® for eligible girls 9 to 13 years of age in 12 districts throughout the country. Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer diagnosed among women in Uganda, and incidence rates of the disease in the country are about three times the global average. An estimated 3,500 women in Uganda are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year.

University of Cape Town Researchers Believe They Have Found a Single Dose Cure for Malaria

The University of Cape Town’s Science Department believes that it has found a single dose cure for Malaria. This was announced by researchers that have been working on this compound, from the aminopyridine class, for several years. Unlike conventional multidrug malaria treatments that the malaria parasite has become resistant to, Professor Kelly Chibale and his colleagues now believe that they have discovered a drug that over 18 months of trials ”killed these resistant parasites instantly”.

Guinea worm is poised to become the second human disease to be eradicated

Guinea worm disease is reaching the end of its days. The parasitic infection, which has sickened millions, mostly in Asia and Africa, is on the verge of being done in not by sophisticated medicine but by aggressive public health efforts in some of the poorest and most remote parts of the world.

Patents for Humanity: USPTO launches new award

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office created Patents for Humanity to provide business incentives for patent holders to tackle the world's most pressing challenges. This 12-month pilot advances the President’s global development agenda by rewarding companies who bring life-saving technologies to underserved regions of the world, and by highlighting positive examples of humanitarian actions that are compatible with business interests and strong patent rights.

UN-backed anti-measles campaign reaches over 5 million Afghan children

A United Nations-supported government campaign to eradicate measles and polio has vaccinated over 5.6 million children in Afghanistan over the past two weeks, and organizers are stressing the need for more funds to complete the effort next month.

Achieving the Goals of the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy

The AIDS Institute is hosting a panel discussion on July 26 2012 as part of the 2012 International AIDS Conference to discuss the Obama Administration's National HIV/AIDS Strategy and how actions taken by the Administration and the US Congress are impacting implementation of the Strategy.

Landmark Summit Puts Women at Heart of Global Health Agenda

Global leaders unite to provide 120 million women in the world’s poorest countries with access to contraceptives by 2020. Voluntary family planning services will reach an additional 120 million women and girls in the world’s poorest countries by 2020 thanks to a new set of commitments announced today by more than 150 leaders from donor and developing countries, international agencies, civil society, foundations and the private sector.

Merck Announces Collaboration to Improve Maternal Health through Expanded Access to Family Planning

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that they will work together to expand access to family planning, a critical step in improving the health of women around the world. Merck intends to pledge up to $25 million over eight years as part of Merck for Mothers – the company’s 10-year initiative to reduce maternal mortality around the world. This pledge will be matched by the Gates Foundation as part of its commitment to family planning. These contributions will advance efforts to help reach United Nations Millennium Development Goal 5, which calls for a 75 percent reduction in maternal mortality and universal access to reproductive health by 2015.

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