Developing World Health (DWH), a leading medical charity based in Stirlingshire, Scotland and committed to developing effective treatments for neglected tropical diseases, has signed a collaboration agreement with the internationally respected Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development (CPDD), based at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The collaboration agreement to develop new drugs is believed to be the first between a UK medical charity and international scientific consortium focused on neglected tropical diseases.
An estimated 16% of the world's population suffer from one or more neglected tropical diseases - with 90% of cases recorded in Africa.
The agreement may prove highly lucrative, potentially generating in excess of $15 million investment in drug development for NTDs that urgently need safe and effective new treatments. Referring to the collaboration agreement with CPDD, Dr Stuart WG Smith, Founder and CEO of Scottish medical charity Developing World Health, commented: "Developing World Health's objective is to facilitate the development of new treatments for NTDs. This collaboration will mean that we can expedite the development of novel treatments and help save the lives of many more children and adults afflicted by the scourge of NTD's."
Dr Rick Tidwell, Director of the Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development (CPDD) based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, commented: "This is a very welcome and exciting strategic partnership and brings together additional expertise to increase funding and collaboration opportunities for the Consortium and enhance the rapid development of novel treatments for NTDs such as African sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis."