Sanofi-Aventis donates $25m to WHO for tropical disease fight

Sanofi-Aventis, the French pharmaceutical company, has announced a donation of $25 million (13.5 million pounds) for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) fight against tropical diseases.

The payment will be spread over a period of five years and represents an extension of an agreement made between the parties in May 2001, when Sanofi-Aventis committed itself to fighting sleeping sickness, with the help of another $25 million. As a result, pentamidine 200mg, melasorprol and eflornithine were made available for distribution free of charge, while helping WHO screening programmes.

Now Sanofi-Aventis and WHO hope to focus on other “neglected” diseases, such as leishmaniasis, which can cause ulcers on the face and arms in its most common form. Additionally, Buruli ulcer, a severe bacterial skin disorder, and Chagas disease, a chronic parasitic blood-transmitted disease, will also receive attention.

The company claims to have a legacy in the treatment of tropical diseases, offering therapies for malaria, tuberculosis, sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis. Furthermore, the company also distributes epilepsy treatments in remote areas of high need.

In other news related to Sanofi-Aventis, the company has denied it had plans to purchase ImClone, an American biotechnology company.

A spokeswoman told Reuters: “Following numerous articles in the French and international press regarding Imclone … Sanofi has not made an offer for Imclone and does not intend to make one.”