Open Innovation Initiatives for Global Health

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of parasitic and bacterial diseases that cause substantial illness for more than one billion people globally. Populations living in poverty, without adequate sanitation and in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals and livestock are those worst affected.

The World Health Organization NTD Roadmap dictates the targets to control, eliminate and eradicate the diseases.  WHO lists 20 NTDs: Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, Dengue and Chikungunya, Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease), Echinococcosis, Foodborne trematodiases, Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), Leishmaniasis, Leprosy (Hansen's disease), Lymphatic_lariasis, Mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses, Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Rabies, Scabies and other ectoparasites, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiases, Snakebite envenoming, Taeniasis/Cysticercosis, Trachoma, Yaws (Endemic treponematoses).

Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. It affects over 250 million people, mainly in communities without access to safe drinking water and with poor sanitation, with an estimated number of deaths of about 200,000 per year. The parasites live within freshwater snails and infect humans by penetrating the skin. The disease can lead to chronic inflammation of the organs, which can be fatal but also to anaemia, stunted growth and impaired learning ability with devastating consequences for the lives of the young children.

Our company has been fighting against schistosomiasis with its partner, the World Health Organization (WHO), since 2007 within the scope of its Schistosomiasis Elimination Program, and provides up to 250 million of praziquantel tables for treatment per year.  Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has been implementing a comprehensive approach combining treatment, research and development, health education & WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) as well as advocacy and partnership to control transmission and eliminate the disease.

Today, half of the world population is at risk of malaria.  In 2021, there were over 240 million cases of malaria worldwide – more than 600,000 people died from the disease, with 95% of cases and deaths concentrated in Africa. Malaria strikes hardest against pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa – children under five still accounted for almost 80% of all malaria deaths worldwide.  

Since 2015, we have engaged “As One Against Malaria”, in the battle against this deadly disease with the aim of developing and providing access to innovative drug products and tools supporting prevention, control and elimination global agenda.

Our intent is to help improving the health of underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries through our science & technology innovation and our close collaboration with partners.

We drive innovative solutions, partnerships and sustainable business models to address unmet needs across the health value chain in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) framework.  We create impact for society and sustainable business value for our company.  

We focus on expanding access to our healthcare products and innovations in low- and middle-income countries; catalyzing health innovations, including for malaria; contributing to the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem.