DNDi Lauds Three Nobel Winners for Advances in Neglected Disease Research

Irish-born William Campell, China's Tu Youyou and Japan's Satoshi Omura won the 2015 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) congratulated the three winners with the hope that their win inspires a new generation of researchers to pursue scientific careers in the field of neglected diseases. Bernard Pecoul, executive director of the non-profit research and development organization, said, "The fact that this Nobel Prize has been awarded to parasitologists who devoted their careers to the treatment of diseases that affect poor populations in low- and middle-income countries shows that research and development (R&D) can deliver concrete solutions of great importance to global public health."

Pecoul further added, "Two fixed-dose combination treatments that DNDi and partners delivered for malaria - ASAQ and ASMQ - were made possible thanks to artemisinin and addressed urgent needs. Unfortunately, such treatments are the exception rather than the rule."

Pecoul hoped the awards will inspire a new generation of researchers to pursue scientific careers in the field of neglected diseases. He said, "We also hope it will encourage greater public leadership in innovation and access to treatments for neglected patients. Today's award will go a long way in showing that innovation cannot be reserved only for those who can pay."

Source-IANS