10/12/2008

Neglected Diseases

 

Neglected diseases are those for which treatment options are inadequate or do not exist and for which drug- market potential is insufficient to attract a private-sector response.

 

Because these neglected diseases predominantly affect the poor, they attract very little research and development funding, which leads directly to a paucity of safe and effective treatment options.

 

According to the World Health Organization, about ten million people-most of them in developing countries-die needlessly every year because they do not have access to existing medicines and vaccines. 

 

PHILADELPHIA CONSENSUS STATEMENT
On University Policies for Health-Related Innovations