Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 2h

We're heading to Berlin for #WHS2025!
Join our R&D Director Laurent Fraisse for the session: The Future of Combatting Neglected Tropical Diseases
📅 Monday, 13 Oct | 🕚 11:00–12:30 CEST
🔗 More info: dndi.org/events/2025/...
🎥 Watch live: youtube.com/watch?v=lCvS...

1

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 4h

‘What is already an innovation gap could become an innovation chasm.’

Large pharma companies withdrawing from R&D for infectious disease therapeutics has a growing impact on non-profit medical research orgs like DNDi, writes our R&D director in @statnews.com.

www.statnews.com/2025/10/09/p...

Pharma’s shift away from infectious disease research could spell disaster for the world’s poorest people

The number of “innovation champions” in the pharma industry working on infectious diseases is dropping — and that’s troubling, writes R&D director for Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

www.statnews.com

19 150 330

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 1d

We will join partners at the 78th #WHOSEARO Regional Committee in Colombo on October 14 to mark 20 years of the Regional Kala-azar Elimination Initiative and to advance collaboration for multi-disease elimination across South Asia.

👉More info: bit.ly/4ourjBp

1 3

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 3d

At DNDi, we are actively engaged in this research space, including through our drug discovery and drug repurposing efforts, to identify and deliver new treatments for the most neglected patients. (4/4)

2

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 3d

Their work paves the way for the development of innovative treatments not only for cancer and autoimmune diseases, but also for neglected infectious diseases such as dengue, Chagas and cutaneous leishmaniasis—diseases that are largely neglected by market-driven R&D. (3/4)

1 3

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 3d

Their groundbreaking discoveries on peripheral immune tolerance helped us understand how the immune system dysregulation is closely linked to the development of numerous diseases. (2/4)

1 2

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 3d

Warm congratulations to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi on being awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine 👏 (1/4) www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medic...

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.”

www.nobelprize.org

1 2 4

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 3d

🎬 Meet Henry — The Boy Who Beat The Sandfly.

A powerful story of resilience, hope, and the urgent need for better treatments for children with #VisceralLeishmaniasis.

📽️ Trailer out now. Full film coming soon!

#ZeroLeish #NNN2025 #GlobalHealth #KalaAzar

4 6

Reposted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO) @iddonews.bsky.social · 6d

🚨 New research on #ChagasDisease 🚨
A paper in the Lancet Microbe finds the treatment for Chagas Disease is excessive & could be given over a substantially shorter time period & still be as effective
🔗 Read more: www.iddo.org/news/new-stu...
#GlobalHealth #NTDs
@lancetmicrobe.bsky.social @dndi.org

New study find treatment for Chagas disease is excessive | Infectious Diseases Data Observatory

A new study has found the current recommended treatment for Chagas disease could be given over a substantially shorter time period and still be as effective.

www.iddo.org

5 3

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 6d

Children are too often left out of clinical trials. In Nature, our Head of HIV Justine Odionyi calls for drug development on neglected diseases to include children from the start. Read the piece (EN/FR): @nature.com #BeatNTDs #GlobalHealth www.nature.com/articles/d44...

Drug development for neglected diseases must account for kids

Including children in trials, shaping regulation locally, could deliver safer, more effective therapies in Africa.

www.nature.com

4 5

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 7d

Skin diseases can block progress toward #UHC. Strengthening primary care for skin conditions means better access for all, ensuring no one is left behind.

'There is potential for inclusion of new therapies in the @who.int essential medicines list.' says @bornanyaoke.bsky.social

#NNN2025

1

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 7d

Chrispin Owaga, new #NNN2025 chair for the #schistosomiasis working group, calls for a strategy shift: with global funding landscapes changing and drug donation resources dwindling, innovation in diagnostics, treatments & vaccines is more critical than ever. #beatNTDs

2 3

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 7d

The way forward:
💡 Stronger coordination
💡 Cross-border collaboration
💡 Investment in research & access
💡 Sustained advocacy

Together, we’re building momentum toward #ZeroLeish and a future where no patient is left behind.

3

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 7d

This week at #NNN2025, together with The END Fund, we hosted the Eastern Africa #VisceralLeishmaniasis annual review meeting.

Over 3 days, partners shared progress, explored innovations, and addressed challenges—from surveillance gaps to climate-driven outbreaks.

1 1

Reposted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · 8d

Michelle Childs (DNDi): Disclosing R&D costs is an accountability tool.

1 1 6

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 8d

Millions live with Chagas disease, but treatment takes 8 weeks & has safety issues. NuestroBen, a new Phase III trial, will test if shorter regimens (2–4 weeks) can be equally effective but much safer, bringing hope for simpler care. doi.org/10.1136/bmjo.... ⤵️

New regimens of benznidazole for the treatment of chronic Chagas disease in adult participants in indeterminate form or with mild cardiac progression (NuestroBen study): protocol for a phase III rando...

Introduction Chagas disease (CD) is one of the most neglected diseases in the world. In Latin America, CD is endemic in 21 countries, with an estimated 70 million people at risk of infection. Current ...

doi.org

1 3

Reposted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

Prof. Sam Kariuki, BVM, MSc, PhD, DSc (Hons, LSTM) @eadirectordndi.bsky.social · 9d

The annual programme review meeting for visceral ##leishmaniasis in Eastern Africa has started in Kampala, Uganda with @dndi.org and The END Fund.

Looking forward to fruitful deliberations on addressing challenges and closing the gaps through partnerships to achieve elimination. #ZeroLeish

3 5

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 9d

The #NNN2025 has begun! It kicked off with a powerful call from communities with lived experience: we must be participants, not just beneficiaries, in decision-making, policy change, and project design. Looking forward to 3 days of vital conversations on neglected diseases.

2 1

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 9d

Scientists tested how the body processes acoziborole, a potential single-dose cure for sleeping sickness. It’s well absorbed and slowly cleared via the gut. A step forward in the fight against this deadly neglected disease. ⤵️ journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Mass balance, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion of radiolabeled acoziborole, a potential novel treatment for human African trypanosomiasis, following single microtracer oral dose to humans |...

Acoziborole (SCYX-7158) is a first-in-class oxaborole 6-carboxamide derivative active against Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense and rhodesiense, the parasites responsible for human African trypanoso...

journals.asm.org

19 170 780

Reposted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

Health Policy Watch - Global health news reporting @healthpolicywatch.bsky.social · 9d

🏍️Mobilisers on motorbikes reached nomadic communities in #Kenya for clinical trials.

Experts agree: engagement is “fundamental, not optional.” Without communities, there are no trials.

✍️ @kerrycullinan.bsky.social
@dndi.org
#IFPMA #GlobalHealth #ClinicalTrials #AfricaHealth

Mobilisers On Motorbikes: The Complex Process Of Involving Communities In Clinical Trials - Health Policy Watch

This was a lot of work, but for Luke Kanyangareng, a nurse based in rural West Pokot, adjacent to the Ugandan border, the community is the main stakeholder in

healthpolicy-watch.news

2 5

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 10d

'This declaration is not made lightly but is driven by the urgent need to protect lives and mobilize all stakeholders toward an effective, coordinated response.'

VL is one of the deadliest parasitic killers after malaria & we need better treatments to control the disease. (2/2)

2

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 10d

Turkana County in Kenya declares public health emergency following a record surge of #VisceralLeishmaniasis. ⤵️ (1/2) thekenyatimes.com/health/turka...

Panic As County Declares Emergency Over Deadly Parasitic Disease

The disease peaked in June this year when 125 new cases were recorded in a single month. In total, Turkana has registered 2,457 cases since 2020.

thekenyatimes.com

1 1 5

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 10d

The fight against NTDs in Africa must include youth; not only as advocates, but as researchers and innovators. This article from Rwanda is a reminder that the next generation is ready to lead. ⤵️
www.newtimes.co.rw/article/3004...

Youth-driven research and innovation can boost efforts to eliminate NTDs in Africa

As the world looks ahead to major global conversations, including the UNGA and COP30, it is clear that sustaining progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)...

www.newtimes.co.rw

1

Reposted by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

Nuffield Department of Medicine @ndm.ox.ac.uk · 13d

Scientists at @cmd.ox.ac.uk have helped develop a crowdsourced, open-science #coronavirus antiviral. Nominated as a broad-spectrum pre-clinical drug candidate by @dndi.org, it's designed to be a globally accessible treatment for future pandemics 💊🦠

Learn more 👉 buff.ly/35Wdlbn

4 7

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · 10d

Last week, we had an engaging media cafe with #science journalists from across East Africa on how to report on #ClinicalTrials.
Thank you to our panelists Dr Bernhards Ogutu, Dr @bornanyaoke.bsky.social, Linet Otieno, Mercy Mumo and to Talk Africa for organizing and moderating the session.

2