Novartis launches new clinical research initiative

Novartis has announced that its institute for tropical diseases will open a clinical research initiative based in Indonesia aiming to expand the abilities of the institute in relation to its research into tuberculosis (TB), dengue fever and malaria.

The initiative will involve the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in collaboration with the Eijkman Institute and Hasanuddin University Clinical Research Institute and involve the recruitment of scientists, access to patients with these diseases and the training of medical students.

Professor Paul Herrling, head of corporate research at Novartis and chairman of NITD, said: “As part of our commitment to tropical disease research, scientists at NITD will now have direct access to patients and their physicians in a setting typical for many patients suffering from TB, dengue or malaria.”

He added that Novartis believe that this initiative will assist the company in its design of therapeutics aimed at patients situated in regions with endemic disease.

As part of the collaboration, the company will offer financial and technological backing, in addition to its local clinical expertise and drug discovery and development knowledge.

Last month, Novartis announced that Cambridge, Massachusetts will be the site of its new its vaccines and diagnostics business unit, which will employ 250 workers in various roles.