Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA,  Darmstadt, Germany, announced that in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) it wants to eliminate the tropical worm disease schistosomiasis in Africa. The major offensive in this effort is Merck Serono’s commitment to a tenfold increase, from 25 million to 250 million, of its annual donation of praziquantel tablets, the most effective treatment for the parasitic worm disease schistosomiasis.  

According to the WHO, with this donation of 250 million tablets of praziquantel per year  the current shortfall of tablets could be filled. Furthermore, Merck Serono is committed  to maintaining its efforts until schistosomiasis is eliminated.  

“By filling the praziquantel access gap, Merck Serono adds to the prospect of  eliminating schistosomiasis, the most important parasitic disease after malaria,” said  Dr. Lorenzo Savioli, Director of the WHO’s Department of Control of Neglected Tropical  Diseases.

As part of Merck Serono’s expanded commitment, the  company also will conduct  research to develop a new formulation of the drug for small children. Until now,  praziquantel tablets have only been suitable for children aged five years and older.

“We are committed to the elimination of schistosomiasis in partnership with the WHO  and others,” said Stefan Oschmann, Executive Board  Member of Merck KGaA and  president of Merck Serono. “We will have to create additional capacity to achieve the required quantities. A project team is working closely with the WHO to determine how  to reach the target of 250 million tablets a year.”

Merck Serono’s expanded attack against schistosomiasis was announced in London during a meeting initiated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s  largest private foundation. This meeting brought together leading international  pharmaceutical companies, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom  and other countries as well as the WHO, the World Bank and several development  organizations. Their aim is to support the WHO to achieve its goal of controlling or  eliminating ten neglected tropical diseases, including schistosomiasis, in order to  improve and save the lives of several hundred million people around the world. The participants announced their intent today in a document titled: “The London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases.”

“Merck Serono is committed to more effectively fighting neglected tropical diseases,” said Oschmann. “It is clear to all participants that everyone must strengthen the efforts in their respective fields. Close coordination between the partners is just as crucial to success. The closer we coordinate the donation activities, research and development of new drugs, as well as the supply and distribution of drugs with each other, the more effectively we’ll be able to fight these diseases.”

Besides providing many more praziquantel tablets and developing a paediatric formulation, Merck Serono is also providing financial support for a WHO-led school awareness program to prevent the disease.
Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease recognized as  the second most prevalent and devastating parasitic disease in tropical countries after malaria. It is estimated that more than 200 million people are infected and that  around 200,000 die from it each year. This chronic disease, which is transmitted from parasitic worms, is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions where poor populations have no access to clean water and sanitary installations. People become infected  with the disease by worm larvae mainly in freshwater, for example while working, swimming, fishing or washing their clothes. The miniscule larvae penetrate human skin, enter the blood vessels and attack internal organs. The infection rate is particularly high among children of school age.  

Praziquantel, the only drug available to treat all forms of schistosomiasis, is designated by the WHO as the  “drug of choice”, providing a cost effective health  solution to more than 200 million people are infected and that  around 200,000 die from it each year. This chronic disease, which is transmitted from parasitic worms, is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions where poor populations have no access to clean water and sanitary installations. People become infected  with the disease by worm larvae mainly in freshwater, for example while working, swimming, fishing or washing their clothes. The miniscule larvae penetrate human skin, enter the blood vessels and attack internal organs. The infection rate is particularly high among children of school age.  

Praziquantel, the only drug available to treat all forms of schistosomiasis, is designated by the WHO as the  “drug of choice”, providing a cost effective health  solution to patients in need.

The Merck Praziquantel Donation Program was launched in 2007 in partnership with the WHO. Since then around 80 million tablets have  been supplied and about 19 million children have been treated. By 2011, Merck  Serono’s annual donation had grown to about 25 million tablets. The further scale-up of the program will allow treatment of about 100 million children a year and thus contribute to the elimination of the disease by 2020 as targeted by the WHO. The expanded Merck Praziquantel Donation Program will result in a financial commitment totaling around € 23 million a
year.

The tablets, which carry the brand name Cesol 600, are currently produced at a Merck Serono site in Mexico. In December 2011, Merck Serono had announced plans to double the number of tablets it currently provides to 50 million annually.