For many years we have focused research and development on the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). NTDs affect more than 1.4 billion people in some of the world’s poorest communities. They cause disability, disfiguration and death, they stretch healthcare budgets and they severely constrain development opportunities.
Uniting to combat NTDs partnership
In January 2012, we joined other global pharmaceutical companies and leading organisations, including the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, US Agency for International Development and the World Bank, in a new united effort to support countries to defeat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Together, this coalition supports the goals set out by WHO to control or eliminate 10 of the 17 NTDs by 2020.
Over the past two years, the partnership has made significant progress. More than 70 countries have delivered detailed plans to control or eliminate NTDs and major pharmaceutical countries have donated more than one billion treatments to meet 100 per cent of drug requests by endemic countries.
Infographic: ending the neglect and reaching 2020 goals
Lymphatic filariasis
Error loading Partial View script (file: ~/Views/MacroPartials/InlineImage.cshtml)
LF is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is more commonly known as elephantiasis, a name which graphically describes the unsightly hardening and thickening of the skin that frequently accompanies massive swelling in the arms, legs, breasts and genitals.
The disease is one of the principal causes of permanent disability worldwide, affecting more than 120 million people in tropical and sub-tropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas. It carries with it a high social burden for those trying to live in a society that they do not always feel accepted in because their appearances are considered shameful.
Lymphatic filariasis - factsheet
Intestinal worms
Error loading Partial View script (file: ~/Views/MacroPartials/InlineImage.cshtml)
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections (intestinal worms) can stunt growth and cause anaemia and malnutrition. They can impact a child’s ability to learn and affect their performance at school.
Three major intestinal worms - roundworm, whipworm and hookworm - are among the most widespread parasites worldwide. Together these parasites inflict a heavy health burden in tropical and subtropical countries.
Fortunately there are tools that offer hope. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), de-worming can result in immediate improvements in child health, leading to increased growth rates, better school attendance and performance, improved iron status, and a decline in anaemia. WHO recommends treatment of all children in endemic areas with anthelminthic drugs - such as our anti-parasite medicine albendazole - to reduce and control intestinal worm infection and illness.
Soil-transmitted helminths - factsheet
How we are tackling LF and intestinal worms
We are an active partner in one of the world’s biggest and boldest public health initiatives, led by the WHO, to rid the world of LF.
GSK has donated more than five billion albendazole tablets to help eliminate LF and control intestinal worms over the last 15 years. Our donations have reached over 600 million people – including 200 million children – and 15 countries have completed mass drug administration campaigns for LF. Researchersestimate the number of people at risk of LF infection has almost halved since 2000.
We have donated albendazole tablets to support efforts to eliminate LF in 61 countries and contribute to the WHO’s goal to regularly de-worm 75% of school-age children in 55countries where intestinal worms are endemic. In 2014, we donated 678 million albendazole tablets for LF elimination and 180 million tablets to treat intestinal worms.