Schistosomiasis Elimination Program

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany initiated its Schistosomiasis Elimination Program in cooperation with WHO back in 2007 and has committed itself to fight against the tropical disease until it has been eliminated.

Facts & Figures

  • 2bn

    tablets of praziquantel have already been provided to WHO by our company

  • 800m

    school-aged children in Sub-Saharan Africa could be treated with the donated tablets

  • 240m

    people are infected worldwide and around 200,000 die from it each year

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has set itself the goal to achieve the elimination of the insidious tropical disease schistosomiasis in selected countries by 2030 through a comprehensive approach build on five cornerstones. To this end, each year Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is providing up to 250 million tablets to WHO for the treatment in endemic countries in Sub-Sahara Africa. The company further continues to develop new and optimized treatments, diagnostics, and innovative technologies to control transmission. In addition, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is supporting awareness programs and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) measures at schools in Africa. The aim is to educate children about the causes of schistosomiasis and ways to prevent it. The fifth pillar of the company’s strategic approach focuses on advocacy and building strong partnerships.

Guenter Peter 2021

Our objective is to eliminate schistosomiasis by 2030. With an integrated approach and a strong network of partners, we firmly believe that a world without this disease is possible.

Peter Guenter

Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO of Healthcare

Related News

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  1. Press Releases

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Provides 1.5 Billionth Tablet of Praziquantel ...

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has donated the 1.5 billionth tablet of praziquantel in partnership with WHO. This medication is the standard of care for the treatment of schistosomiasis.

    2022/01/24

  2. Press Releases

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to Develop Automated Diagnostic Tool for Neglected ...

    Combined efforts aim to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) technology that detects both schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis

    2020/07/02

  3. Press Releases

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Donates one Billionth Praziquantel Tablet

    Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany today announced that it has already donated 1 billion tablets of praziquantel, the standard medication for the treatment of schistosomiasis, to the World Health Organization (WHO)

    2020/01/30

Timo Breiner

Group Communications