Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative (DNDi), a global not-for-profit organisation formed with the objective of finding innovative cure for diseases in the sub-Saharan and tropical region, has approached major Indian pharma corporates and research institutions like the CSIR, for grant of funds and technology for its research efforts.

The organisation is continuing its efforts in the development of new molecules for treating diseases including Kala Azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis), African and American trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), and malaria, which affect poor in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the underdeveloped world.

The current day drugs for treating these diseases are the same which used forty years ago and innovator pharma companies have paid no attention for developing new molecules for such diseases, complained Dr. Bernard Pecoul, executive director, DNDi, Geneva, Switzerland.

"In such a bleak scenario, DNDi has undertaken the task of developing molecules itself. We are in the process of developing 4 to 6 new molecules, most of which are in pre-clinical stage. We have already received the first round of funding of $ 30 million from the WHO. We plan to invest $ 250 million in the next 10 years in research. We are in talks with companies and institutions the world over for funding and technological assistance. DNDi is expecting help from Indian corporates and research institutions for assistance in our endeavour," said Dr. Pecoul, who spoke to Pharmabiz during his recent visit in India.

According to Dr. Pecoul, for access to new medicines, people in the underdeveloped region have to wait for 10-15 years for expiries of patented molecules. "Between 1975 and 1999, 1,393 NCEs were discovered, of which only one per cent of the molecules were critical to the tropical world," said Dr. Pecoul.

DNDi was formed in 2002 and it's six founding partners are - Indian Council of Medical Research, Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, France's Institut Pasteur and Médecins Sans Frontières, Kenya's Medical Research Institute, and Malaysia's Ministry of Health.

DNDi's other objectives include raising awareness on the need for R&D for tropical diseases, and increasing the accessibility and affordability of drugs in poorer countries of Africa, Asia, and South America.