Abbott and DNDi agree tropical disease partnership

Abbott has announced a new agreement with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to undertake new research into serious tropical disease.

The collaboration will see DNDi and Abbott scientists conducting research into the discovery and advancement of novel antimicrobial agents with activity against illnesses such as Chagas disease, helminth infections, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness.

It will build on the organisation's existing agreement, which has seen Abbott providing compounds for DNDi to screen as potential therapies for neglected diseases since 2009.

Any treatments developed under the new alliance will be made available to patients in poorer nations by DNDi for the lowest possible sustainable prices.

Dr John Leonard, senior vice-president for pharmaceutical research and development at Abbott, said: "By combining the unique scientific expertise and resources of DNDi and Abbott, we look forward to accelerating research to find practical new treatment options for people affected by these diseases."

This comes after the firm recently announced its 2011 financial results, reporting annual growth of 10.5 percent.