Fighting leprosy
The fight against leprosy is a public health success story. Today, only four countries in the world face a prevalence of leprosy exceeding one case per 10 000 inhabitants, compared to 122 countries in 1985. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported approximately 225 000 leprosy cases worldwide at the beginning of 2007 – a reduction of about 98% compared to the early 1980s.
Multi-drug therapy (MDT) has revolutionized the treatment of leprosy. MDT cures leprosy patients, interrupting transmission of the disease after the first dose of medication and preventing disabilities. Two of the three drugs used in MDT were developed in the research laboratories of Novartis.
Nearly all of the global supply of MDT is provided by a collaboration between the WHO and Novartis. Based on estimates from the WHO, Novartis MDT donations helped cure about 4.5 million patients in the past seven years. Since 2000, we have supplied 41 million blister packs at a cost of about USD 60 million.
Publications
Making leprosy history
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Klaus M. Leisinger, President and CEO of the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, reviews progress to date and suggests ways forward in the fight against leprosy.
Leprosy: treating the disease and the social stigma
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Ranjit Shahani, President of Novartis India, explains how multi-drug therapy (MDT) has revolutionized leprosy treatment. Yet, the social stigma affecting leprosy patients persists.
Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) 2007 annual report
For a world free of leprosy, NFSD 2007 report
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Für eine Welt ohne Lepra, Stiftungsbericht 2007
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“For a world free of leprosy” is the core theme of the 2007 annual report of the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development.
Leprosy on the brink of elimination: public health leaders prepare for final push
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Leprosy on the brink of elimination: public health leaders prepare for final push
NFSD
For more than 20 years, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development has been engaged in the fight against leprosy.
Learn about the Novartis Foundation’s leprosy programs
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